Campaign by Jewish community groups in New York seeks cancellation of Yulduz Usmonova’s concert

A campaign has been launched in the United States calling for the cancellation of a concert by Uzbek People’s Artist Yulduz Usmonova in New York City, according to Brighton Beach News.

Local politicians, including Nassau County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, as well as members of the New York State Assembly — Michael Novakhov and Alec Brook-Krasny — have voiced criticism.

Initiators of the campaign accuse the singer of making antisemitic statements. According to them, Usmonova was asked to publicly retract her remarks and apologize, but she declined. An appeal has also been submitted to Marco Rubio requesting the revocation of the artist’s visa.

A press conference dedicated to the cancellation initiative is scheduled to be held in New York on May 4. Organizers argue that holding such a concert in a Brooklyn neighborhood with a large Jewish population is inappropriate, particularly ahead of dates associated with the remembrance of World War II.

For reference, Usmonova’s concert in New York was also canceled in 2014 due to logistical issues, as only the singer was listed in the invitation while her accompanying musicians were not, preventing them from obtaining visas in time.

It should also be noted that another concert scheduled for September 14, 2024, in New York State was canceled following protests from the Jewish diaspora in the United States. The backlash came after the singer expressed her views on the Israel–Palestine conflict on social media, criticizing Israel and calling for a boycott of its products, which drew strong reactions from the Bukharian Jewish community in the U.S. and Israel.