Noname’s SummerStage show in New York’s Central Park has been canceled.
Hell Gate reports that the announcement came on Tuesday, coming a week after Kehlani’s SummerStage show was also called off. While there is no confirmation, there is speculation that both artists’ cancellations might have something to do with their politics, as both are vocally pro-Palestine.
While New York Mayor Eric Adams took responsibility for cancelling Kehlani’s performance, blaming alleged “security concerns,” the mayor’s office told the outlet that it had nothing to do with the news about Noname.
Noname was set to headline SummerStage’s Juneteenth show, with opening sets by Ravyn Lenae and Fana Hues.
“City Parks Foundation SummerStage did not cancel the Juneteenth/Noname benefit concert originally scheduled for June 18. 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,” Heather Lubov, the executive director of City Parks Foundation, the nonprofit that runs SummerStage, told Pitchfork.
Last month, Kehlani was pulled from performing at Cornell University’s “Slope Day” for her comments about Israel. She subsequently released a statement, denying the university’s claim that she “espoused antisemitic…sentiments.”
“I’m not antisemitic or anti-Jew,” she said. “I’m anti-genocide, anti-actions of the Israeli government, anti-extermination of entire people, anti-bombing of innocent children, men, and women. That’s what I’m anti.”
