NYC Council Demands Reinstatement of Canceled Kehlani and Noname Concerts

Thirteen NYC council members are condemning Mayor Eric Adams' office for interfering and canceling the SummerStage performances of Kehlani and Noname. They've penned a letter to SummerStage organizers, urging them to reinstate the shows.

<img src="https://www.rollingstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/city-council-kehlani-noname-concert.jpg?w=1581&amp;h=1054&amp;crop=1" alt="noname kehlani city council members concert canceled reinstated central park">

The Controversy:

Both Kehlani and Noname are vocal supporters of Palestine, a stance that led to earlier concert cancellations. Kehlani's Cornell University show was canceled after accusations of "antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments", which they denied. Mayor Adams' office cited "security concerns" in pressuring SummerStage to cancel Kehlani's SummerStage Pride concert, leading to the cancellation of Noname's Juneteenth performance as well. The council members see this as a gross abuse of power and censorship.

Council Members' Response:

The council members' letter highlights the public funding of SummerStage and its stated commitment to diversity and free speech. They argue that canceling these shows contradicts these values, representing an attack on Black and Brown artists. They've pledged support to SummerStage should they choose to reverse the cancellations.

Key Players:

The letter is spearheaded by Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Nantasha Williams, and signed by several others, including Chi Ossé, the youngest member in NYC Council history.

The council members' strong stance against the Mayor's actions raises questions about artistic freedom, political expression, and the role of public funding in the arts. The situation will likely continue to garner attention and debate within the city.