The New York mayor's office exerted significant pressure to cancel the concert Kehlani Ashley is known for her pro-Palestinian stance

The upcoming concert of American singer Kehlani Ashley, scheduled to take place in Central Park, New York next month, has been canceled due to her outspoken stance against Israeli policies—a position that has sparked significant political and public controversy.

The event, titled “Pride with Kehlani,” was part of New York City’s Pride Month celebrations and was set for June 26. However, it was canceled following significant pressure from New York City Mayor Eric Adams' office, which reportedly threatened to revoke permits for the SummerStage concert series citing "security concerns."

According to the New York Post, the mayor’s office applied intense pressure on the City Parks Foundation to call off the concert, warning that SummerStage’s licenses could be suspended if the event proceeded without addressing the alleged safety issues.

The cancellation follows a similar decision by Cornell University, which dropped Kehlani from its end-of-year concert lineup in May, reportedly due to her political views, particularly her criticism of Israel.

PEN America, a prominent free expression advocacy group, described the cancellation as “cowardly.” Jonathan Friedman, the organization's managing director, issued a statement saying, “It’s deeply troubling to see elected officials using their power to define the boundaries of acceptable speech and coercing private entities into compliance.”

This marks the second time in recent weeks that a Kehlani performance has been canceled over her political views. The singer has faced increasing backlash for her open support of the Palestinian cause, particularly since the October 7, 2023, events in Gaza.

Following the cancellation of her Central Park show, Kehlani appeared unfazed, saying she learned about the decision through social media.

A vocal advocate for Palestine, Kehlani has not hesitated to express her solidarity with Palestinians. She previously shared a map erasing the so-called "State of Israel" and refused to condemn the resistance during Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood."

In her 2024 music video for the song “Next 2 U,” Kehlani wore a jacket adorned with a keffiyeh, surrounded by dancers waving Palestinian flags. The video opened with the phrase “Long Live the Intifada” on a black screen.