‘Not about safety, about silencing’: Lawmakers slam SummerStage concert cancellations of Kehlani and Noname

Thirteen members of the New York City Council are calling on the City Parks Foundation to reinstate the canceled SummerStage performances of R&B singer Kehlani and rapper Noname, denouncing the cancellations as a “blatant act of artistic censorship.”

In a letter sent to foundation leaders on Tuesday, Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Dr. Nantasha Williams, joined by 11 colleagues, condemned the cancellations of “Pride with Kehlani” and “Juneteenth with Noname / Ravyn Lenae / Fana Hues,” linking them to the artists’ criticism of the Israeli government’s actions in Gaza.

The lawmakers called the cancellations of next month’s Central Park concerts a threat to free speech and artistic expression. They pledged public support for the foundation if it reverses the decision, though a reinstatement remains unlikely.

“We urge you to reverse the cancellation of Kehlani and Noname’s SummerStage concerts and recommit to your stated values of free speech and artistic expression,” they wrote. “We will stand with you and support you.”

Concerts an ‘unacceptable risk’?

Jul 15, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Singer-songwriter Kehlani performs during halftime at the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

The City Parks Foundation, a nonprofit that runs SummerStage with public and private funding, announced on May 5 that Kehlani’s June 26 concert was canceled after the Mayor’s Office raised security concerns stemming from controversy surrounding Cornell University’s earlier cancellation of Kehlani’s campus show there, as well as security demands throughout the City for other Pride events during that same period.

The day prior, the city told the foundation it planned to carry out an NYPD security assessment of the event and warned that if the concert posed “unacceptable risk,” the Foundation’s license to use public parks could be reconsidered.

“If, after conducting that security assessment, the NYPD were to determine that serious security concerns existed and posed an unacceptable risk to public safety, we would then have to determine what effect, if any, this would have on the status of the Foundation’s license,” Deputy First Mayor Randy Mastro wrote in a letter to the foundation. “If the Foundation does not promptly take steps to ensure public safety, the city reserves all rights and remedies with respect to the Foundation’s license.

Kehlani, a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and featured Palestinian flags and the phrase “long live the intifada” in her 2024 music video “Next 2 U.”

She denied allegations of antisemitism in response to Cornell’s decision to cancel her concert, stating on social media, “I am anti-genocide … anti the bombing of innocent children, men, women — that’s what I’m anti.” A representative for the artist did not respond to requests for comment.

Noname, also a prominent supporter of Palestine, has criticized U.S. funding of Israel and signed the “Musicians for Palestine” pledge advocating a cultural boycott. Her June 18 SummerStage concert was also canceled, though the City Parks Foundation said that decision came from the artist and promoter Live Nation.

Neither Noname nor Live Nation reps responded to amNewYork’s request for comment.

“City Parks Foundation made the difficult decision to cancel the Kehlani concert in response to the security concerns raised by City Hall,” said City Parks Foundation Executive Director Heather Lubov. “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.”

Lubov added that a reason for the cancellation of Noname’s event was not provided to SummerStage.

‘Deeply disturbed’ at City Hall over singer’s remarks

City Hall denied involvement in either cancellation, saying its only role was raising safety concerns regarding Kehlani’s event. Press Secretary Kayla Mamelak said Mayor Eric Adams was “deeply disturbed” by Kehlani’s past remarks, which she described as “antisemitic,” but emphasized the Foundation made the final call.

“It’s a shame that some councilmembers are willing to jeopardize public safety and align themselves with antisemites,” Mamelak said.

Cabán and Williams rejected those claims, suggesting that the Foundation is “being bullied by Eric Adams and Randy Mastro in order to silence political dissent against the atrocities in Gaza and repress artistic expression.”

“Art and music are powerful forms of expression that must be nurtured and protected. In a moment when our federal administration remains hellbent on diminishing our collective rights and punishing political dissent, artists and artistic expression must be defended. Here in New York City, we will not allow our local government to do the same. Freedom of expression keeps us safe. A healthy democracy keeps us safe. Randy Mastro and Eric Adams’ commitment to the Trump agenda, silencing artists and cultural organizations for their political views, is an unacceptable overreach,” said Cabán.

Williams added, “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.”

Other signatories include Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala and Council Members Jennifer Gutiérrez, Alexa Avilés, Shahana Hanif, Carmen De La Rosa, Lincoln Restler, Carlina Rivera, Chi Ossé, Justin Brannan, Sandy Nurse, and Rita Joseph.

“We recognize that when powerful forces threaten to destroy what you’ve built, something beautiful and important to so many New Yorkers, it can be difficult to uphold one’s principles,” the joint letter reads. “This letter is a reminder that there are others who will stand with City Parks Foundation on the right side of history should your organization choose to stand in solidarity with everyday New Yorkers who share your vision of thriving parks and thriving communities – as you say, “for anyone and everyone.”