Latest news with #SlopeDay
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
City Council calls to reinstate Kehlani and Noname SummerStage performances
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — Multiple New York City Councilmembers are calling on the City Parks Foundation to reinstate SummerStage performances for singers Kehlani and Noname. Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Dr. Nantasha Williams sent a joint letter to the City Parks Foundation on Tuesday urging leaders to reverse the cancellation and condemning New York City Mayor Eric Adams for what they're calling political pressure. More Local News 'When political pressure leads to threats against a permit that could impact an entire season of public performances, it puts our civil liberties at risk. Free speech is not optional,' said Williams. 'It's a right and it must be protected, especially when the voices being targeted are the very ones most often pushed to the margins.' More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State R&B singer Kehlani was originally set to perform on June 26 in honor of Pride but was canceled due to 'concerns for security and safety' from the Mayor's Office, according to a social media post from SummerStage. The cancellation came shortly after Kehlani was pulled from Cornell University's Slope Day festival for comments related to Gaza. Noname, who has similarly been outspoken about Gaza, was scheduled to headline a Juneteenth show. 'These cancellations are not about safety, they're about silencing. Black and brown artists have always spoken honestly about the world as it is and as it should be. That's what Pride and Juneteenth demand of us: truth-telling, not retreat,' said Williams. In a statement provided to PIX11 News, City Parks Foundation Executive Director Heather Lubov said: 'To clarify – City Parks Foundation SummerStage did not cancel the Juneteenth/Noname benefit concert. This cancellation is a matter between Live Nation, the producer of the concert, and the artist. A reason for cancellation was not provided to SummerStage. City Parks Foundation made the difficult decision to cancel the Kehlani concert in response to the security concerns raised by City Hall. The concerns also suggested that our license to operate SummerStage would be in jeopardy if we let the concert go on. The Mayor's Office cited the controversy surrounding Cornell University's decision to cancel Kehlani's concert at the University, as well as security demands in Central Park and throughout the City for other Pride events during that same time period. We strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expression of all kinds. However, the safety and security of our guests and artists is of the utmost importance and in light of these concerns, the concert has been cancelled. SummerStage is proud to be a platform for artists from around the world to perform and make arts accessible for all New Yorkers in their neighborhood parks. While artists may choose to express their own opinions, their views may not necessarily be representative of the festival. SummerStage events are intended to bring together all sectors of the New York City community and we look forward to welcoming more guests throughout the summer.' Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kehlani's NYC concert SummerStage is canceled amid 'safety concerns' from Mayor Eric Adams' office
Mayor Eric Adams has canceled a scheduled performance by Kehlani in Central Park as she continues to face backlash over anti-Israel sentiments. The singer had been set to headline a June 26 concert billed as 'Pride with Kehlani' at the iconic Manhattan park as part of SummerStage, an annual slate of free concerts at parks across the city. But organizers on Monday revealed the concert would no longer go ahead, citing concerns from the Mayor's office. Kehlani had also been slated to perform at Cornell University on May 7, but the Ivy League school rescinded the invitation last month, saying the planned appearance had 'injected division and discord' into its annual Slope Day celebration. SummerStage said in the Monday statement that Adams' office was concerned about the 'controversy surrounding Cornell University's decision to cancel Kehlani's concert at the University, as well as security demands in Central Park and throughout the City for other Pride events during that same period.' 'We strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expression of all kinds,' the organization wrote in the announcement posted on Instagram. 'However, the safety and security of our guests and artists is of the utmost importance and in light of these concerns, the concert has been cancelled.' Kehlani responded on Instagram Stories by sharing the announcement, along with the phrase 'lol.' The post included a selfie in which the musician wrote: 'I just found that one out on Instagram by the way. 'I'm so deeply grounded in my purpose, my mission, my art, my contribution. Back to this album. See you this weekend LA!' Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said the administration was 'grateful' for the City Parks Foundation, the nonprofit that organizes SummerStage, for responding to its concerns. 'We look forward to an exciting lineup of other performances this summer,' she wrote in an email. Last month, Kehlani pushed back at claims she had expressed antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments. 'For the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew,' she said in a video, also posted on Instagram. 'I am anti-genocide. I am anti-the actions of the Israeli government. I am anti-an extermination of an entire people. I am anti-the bombing of innocent children, men, women — that's what I'm anti.' The California native has been vocal in supporting Palestinians during the ongoing war in Gaza. Her music video 'Next 2 U' opens with the phrase 'long live the intifada' and features dancers waving Palestinian flags. Intifada, an Arabic word for 'uprising' or 'resistance,' is seen by some as a call for violence against Jews. After her performance at Cornell was canceled, University President Michael Kotlikoff sent an email explaining the decision to rescind her invitation, arguing she had 'espoused antisemitic, anti-sentiments in performances, videos and on social media.' PEN America, a group that advocates for artists' freedom of expression, called the cancellation 'cowardly.' It noted the decision came as US Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat representing the Bronx, slammed Kehlani's appearance, saying the city has 'no business subsidizing or sanitizing antisemitism at taxpayer expense' in a post on X. 'It is deeply unsettling to see elected officials using their offices to dictate the bounds of acceptable expression and muscling private entities to fall into line,' PEN America said in a statement.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kehlani NYC concert canceled over safety concerns
NEW YORK (PIX11) — Kehlani's upcoming SummerStage concert in Central Park has been canceled due to safety and security issues raised by the city, the festival announced Monday. The singer was set to perform at the annual concert series on June 26. The event was one of many Pride events happening around New York City. 'We have been notified by the Mayor's Office that they have concerns for security and safety issues regarding the June 26 Kehlani concert … (as well as) security demands in Central Park and throughout the city for other Pride events during that same time period,' SummerStage posted on Instagram. Organizers claimed similar concerns prompted Cornell University to cancel Kehlani's show at the upstate New York campus after complaints that she expressed antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments. The artist was scheduled to perform at the school's annual spring celebration called Slope Day. Kehlani has used their position to publicly support Palestinians and has embraced the word 'intifada,' an Arabic word for 'uprising' or 'resistance.' The R&B star recently said in a video post they were not anti-Jew but anti-genocide, according to Billboard. 'We strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expressions of all kinds. However, the safety and security of our guests is of the utmost importance … While artists may choose to express their opinions, their views may not necessarily be representative of the festival,' according to the festival's Instagram post. The artist posted the cancelation on her Instagram stories and wrote, 'lol.' The Pride with Kehlani benefit concert was still on the SummerStage schedule as of Monday night. Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Kehlani responds to concert cancellation over ‘anti-Israel sentiments'
DUBAI: US singer Kehlani has taken to social media after her appearance at Cornell University's annual campus concert was cancelled due to her pro-Palestine stance. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Last week, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced he was withdrawing the R&B singer's invitation to perform at the event due to what he called 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.' A post shared by Kehlani (@kehlani) 'Unfortunately, although it was not the intention, the selection of Kehlani as this year's headliner has injected division and discord into Slope Day,' Kotlikoff wrote last week, referring to the concert. 'For that reason, I am rescinding Kehlani's invitation and expect a new lineup for a great 2025 Slope Day to be announced shortly.' He continued: 'In the days since Kehlani was announced, I have heard grave concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt, and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media. While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.' In a new Instagram video responding to the cancellation, Kehlani said: 'I am being asked and called to clarify and make a statement yet again for the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew. I am anti-genocide, I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti an extermination of an entire people, I'm anti the bombing of innocent children, men women… that's what I'm anti.' The 30-year-old, a frequent collaborator with the Jewish Voice for Peace group, added a caption, stating: 'I know you've seen Cornell University cancelled my show, and now there are attempts at other cancellations on top of the cancellations I've already experienced over the past year. If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your Zionism. don't make it anti-jew. this a played out game. all this because we want people to stop dying. I hope this helps.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kehlani's Cornell show canceled over ‘antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments'
Cornell University has pulled the plug on R&B singer Kehlani performing at its annual campus concert over her antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments. The five-time Grammy Award-nominated artist, who has been outspoken about Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, was dropped from the upstate New York Ivy League school's 2025 Slope Day festivities, taking place May 7. Newly appointed school president Michael I. Kotlikoff wrote that 'the selection of Kehlani as this year's headliner has injected division and discord' into the event in an email Wednesday. 'In the days since Kehlani was announced, I have heard grave concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media,' he wrote. Earlier this month, the Trump administration halted $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell amid the President's ongoing anti-DEI campaign targeting prestigious universities and colleges. Kotlikoff explained that his decision followed a meeting with members of the student board that planned the concert. According to the university leader, the students agreed that their choice had 'compromised what is meant to be an inclusive event.' Kehlani, real name Kehlani Ashley Parrish, is an Oakland-born singer-songwriter who is signed to Atlantic Records. Signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation management firm last year, she has collaborated with artists such as Cardi B, Ty Dolla $ign, Charlie Puth and Chance the Rapper. An unapologetic pro-Palestinian supporter, the artist wore a jacket adorned with keffiyehs as dancers waved Palestinian flags in her 2024 music video 'Next 2 U,' which included the phrase 'Long live the intifada' in its introduction. The word 'intifada' translates into rebellion or uprising, which the ADL said is a slogan for 'indiscriminate violence against Israel.' But others consider it a cry for liberation and freedom. The 30-year-old 'Gangsta' star is scheduled to perform at the Capital One City Parks Foundation Summerstage concert on June 26 in Central Park. ______
