Overview

• The City Parks Foundation canceled Kehlani’s June 26 Pride concert at SummerStage in Central Park after receiving a letter from First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro citing security concerns and potential license revocation.
• Cornell University previously rescinded Kehlani’s invitation to headline its Slope Day event, accusing the artist of promoting antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments.
• Kehlani has denied the accusations, stating they are anti-genocide and critical of the Israeli government’s actions, not antisemitic or anti-Jewish.
• The cancellations highlight the tension between artistic expression, public safety, and the influence of political and institutional pressures on event programming.
• Kehlani’s activism, including pro-Palestinian imagery in their work, has drawn criticism and fueled debate within the broader context of U.S. campus and cultural politics.