Noname’s Juneteenth Show Canceled, Following Kehlani’s Axed Pride Performance
Noname’s upcoming SummerStage performance in New York City has been canceled, marking the second major show scrapped from the series in just over a week.
The news comes shortly after R&B singer Kehlani’s Pride Month concert was pulled from the lineup amid controversy.
Local outlet Hell Gate first reported the cancellation, citing Ticketmaster’s event page, which now indicates that the June 19 performance at Central Park is no longer scheduled to take place.
While the cause remains unclear, the move follows a wave of cancellations tied to political pressure and safety concerns. Kehlani’s previously scheduled June 24 show was canceled by SummerStage organizers following warnings from Mayor Eric Adams’ office.
The decision came after Cornell University barred the singer from speaking at a student-organized event, citing “antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media,” according to university president Michael I. Kotlikoff.
Kehlani, who has publicly supported Palestinians amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, has since responded in a social media post, stating, “I am not antisemitic nor am I anti-Jew,” adding, “I am anti-genocide... I’m anti the bombing of innocent children, men, women… that’s what I’m anti.”
RELATED: Kehlani’s SummerStage Show Canceled After Mayor’s Office Flags Safety Risks Over Political Fallout
Mayor Adams, when asked about Kehlani’s canceled show, pointed to rising antisemitism as a factor. “Everyone knows my feeling about the increase in antisemitism throughout the country and if not throughout the globe,” he said at a May 6 press conference.
However, when it comes to Noname’s canceled set, the Mayor’s Office denied involvement, referring questions to Live Nation.
Known for her radical politics and community work, Noname once told Rolling Stone in a dated interview, “I could be more anti-capitalist, more anti-imperialist... but I just feel like with the state of the world, we all should be doing more.”
Through her Noname Book Club and Radical Hood Library, the emcee has long championed anti-carceral and justice-oriented literature, including works focused on Palestine.
