The New York governor\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
One of Uzbekistan’s most famous pop singers, Yulduz Usmonova, was booked for a sold-out Mother\u2019s Day concert at the Oceana Theater. But local Republican lawmakers were outraged by her past statements criticizing Israel and Jewish people.<\/p>\n
Blakeman said Usmonova, who holds the honorary title<\/a> of \u201cPeople\u2019s Artist of Uzbekistan,\u201d has a history of antisemitic statements. The candidate and his coalition protested outside the theater Monday and demanded the venue cancel the concert.<\/p>\n By Monday night the theater had nixed the weekend show and promised to refund<\/a> the tickets. \u201cWe stood firm against antisemitism and all hate speech, and as a result canceled the performance of a Jew hater,\u201d Blakeman said in a statement Tuesday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The episode is another example of Blakeman\u2019s vocal support of Israel as he challenges Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. Last week, the Nassau County executive released his tax returns<\/a>, which showed he earned $3,784 from Israeli bonds.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> toward President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not happy with what they did,\u201d she said in an interview. Burgos said she believed Blakeman and local elected officials made an issue of the concert \u201cfor their own votes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re hurt by her words. It\u2019s a little bit harsh, I understand,\u201d Burgos said. \u201cBut why are you surfacing this now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is all to promote himself,\u201d she said of Blakeman.<\/p>\n Usmonova, 62, is hugely popular in Uzbekistan and the surrounding region \u2014 she\u2019s sometimes called the \u201cMadonna of Central Asia.\u201d Her music often blends traditional instruments and melodies with modern pop beats and synths. She\u2019s also acted in several Uzbek movies.<\/p>\n Blakeman and other local lawmakers argue Usmonova has made numerous antisemitic statements in social media videos, including calling for “all horrors<\/a>” to rain down upon the Jewish people.<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aIt’s an insult to the community, to our Holocaust survivors who live in my district and around the theater,\u201d said Assemblymember Michael Novakhov, a Brooklyn Republican who was also at the protest. \u201c\u200aShe said pretty vile, dangerous, antisemitic stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Usmonova said on Instagram<\/a> she would not stop advocating for the rights of Palestinians. \u201cIf you are a Jewish Zionist that thinks I will apologize, you are deeply mistaken,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI am against violence,\u201d she added. \u201cYou\u2019re just adding authority to me with this.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked whether the push to cancel the concert was an example of the \u201ccancel culture\u201d Republicans have accused Democrats of promoting, Novakhov said he was \u201cnot sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t thought about that,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I see this as something different.\u201d<\/p>\n Novakhov added he and Blakeman are lobbying Secretary of State Marco Rubio to cancel Usmonova\u2019s travel visa. The canceled concert \u201cis not enough,\u201d Novakhov said. \u201cI think she shouldn’t be allowed to enter the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n Usmonova is scheduled to perform at the Trump Kennedy Center<\/a> in Washington, D.C. on May 11.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will still see each other at the concerts,\u201d Usmonova said in her Instagram video. \u201cNot this time, maybe next time.\u201d<\/p>\n