Brighton Beach concert of Uzbek pop star canceled after criticism from Bruce Blakeman

The New York governor’s race typically revolves around issues like affordability and public safety. But on Tuesday, Republican nominee Bruce Blakeman took a break from criticizing the governor to take credit for resolving a controversy in Brighton Beach.

One of Uzbekistan's most famous pop singers, Yulduz Usmonova, was booked for a sold-out Mother’s Day concert at the Oceana Theater. But local Republican lawmakers were outraged by her past statements criticizing Israel and Jewish people.

Blakeman said Usmonova, who holds the honorary title of “People’s Artist of Uzbekistan,” has a history of antisemitic statements. The candidate and his coalition protested outside the theater Monday and demanded the venue cancel the concert.

By Monday night the theater had nixed the weekend show and promised to refund the tickets. “We stood firm against antisemitism and all hate speech, and as a result canceled the performance of a Jew hater,” Blakeman said in a statement Tuesday.

In her own video posted to Instagram, Usmonova said she was being attacked for criticism of Israel. Representatives for Usmonova did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The episode is another example of Blakeman’s vocal support of Israel as he challenges Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. Last week, the Nassau County executive released his tax returns, which showed he earned $3,784 from Israeli bonds.

While the Usmonova controversy may not get much attention outside of the former Soviet diaspora, South Brooklyn is an important Republican voting bloc. The area swung heavily toward President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

Asiya Burgos, a New Jersey-based events producer who booked the Usmonova concert, said what was meant to be a cultural event for the local Uzbek community was co-opted by politics.

“We’re not happy with what they did,” she said in an interview. Burgos said she believed Blakeman and local elected officials made an issue of the concert “for their own votes.”

“They’re hurt by her words. It’s a little bit harsh, I understand,” Burgos said. “But why are you surfacing this now?”

“This is all to promote himself,” she said of Blakeman.

Usmonova, 62, is hugely popular in Uzbekistan and the surrounding region — she’s sometimes called the “Madonna of Central Asia.” Her music often blends traditional instruments and melodies with modern pop beats and synths. She’s also acted in several Uzbek movies.

Blakeman and other local lawmakers argue Usmonova has made numerous antisemitic statements in social media videos, including calling for "all horrors" to rain down upon the Jewish people.

“ It's an insult to the community, to our Holocaust survivors who live in my district and around the theater,” said Assemblymember Michael Novakhov, a Brooklyn Republican who was also at the protest. “ She said pretty vile, dangerous, antisemitic stuff.”

Usmonova said on Instagram she would not stop advocating for the rights of Palestinians. “If you are a Jewish Zionist that thinks I will apologize, you are deeply mistaken,” she said.

“I am against violence,” she added. “You’re just adding authority to me with this.”

When asked whether the push to cancel the concert was an example of the “cancel culture” Republicans have accused Democrats of promoting, Novakhov said he was “not sure.”

“I haven’t thought about that,” he said. “But I see this as something different.”

Novakhov added he and Blakeman are lobbying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to cancel Usmonova’s travel visa. The canceled concert “is not enough,” Novakhov said. “I think she shouldn't be allowed to enter the United States.”

Usmonova is scheduled to perform at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on May 11.

“We will still see each other at the concerts,” Usmonova said in her Instagram video. “Not this time, maybe next time.”