A highly anticipated concert by Uzbek singer Yulduz Usmanova has been officially cancelled by a Brooklyn theatre following a wave of political protests and accusations of antisemitism.
The controversy ignited when a video circulated online showing Usmanova making what critics described as harsh and derogatory remarks about Jewish people.
The footage prompted immediate action from New York State Assemblyman Michael Novakhov who, alongside more than 40 other lawmakers, submitted a formal request to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding the cancellation of the singer’s visa.
Refusal to apologise
Ahead of the performance scheduled for May 9 at the Oceana Theater, Novakhov reached out to Usmanova’s management to suggest she issue a public apology to quell the growing public outrage.
While the artist’s producer attempted to defuse the situation, claiming the remarks were purely emotional and highlighting her positive ties with the Bukharian Jewish community, Yulduz Usmanova took a decidedly different stance.
Addressing the controversy on Instagram, the singer categorically refused to retract her statements. She stated that while she vehemently opposes violence, she firmly supports a free Palestine, referring to the region as «their land».
During the broadcast, Yulduz Usmanova also drew a distinction between the ancient lineage of the Jewish people and the modern geopolitical reality of Israel as a newer nation. Defiant regarding the backlash, she noted her show had sold out and insisted she would continue to «sing for humanity».
A subsequent video forwarded to Novakhov by event organisers, which purportedly showed Usmanova admitting that her comments regarding Jews and Israel «didn’t turn out well», did little to pacify local leaders after her public refusal to apologise.
Political backlash and cancellation
The situation reached a breaking point when Bruce Blakeman, a Republican candidate for New York governor, organised a press conference outside the venue. Standing alongside local lawmakers, Blakeman demanded the theatre ax the event.
«Here in Brooklyn, as well as throughout New York State and the U.S., there is no place for hate speech, and certainly not for ‘hate singing’,» Blakeman declared.
His position was heavily backed by Novakhov and fellow Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny. Brook-Krasny publicly urged the singer to cease making such statements and emphasised that her views do not represent those of the broader Uzbek-American community.
Facing mounting pressure from officials and protesters alike, the Oceana Theater’s administration announced the cancellation of the concert via a Facebook statement.
Notably, this is not an isolated incident for the venue or the artist; the theatre previously cancelled a scheduled performance by Usmanova in 2024 following a similar uproar over statements directed at Israelis.
