San Francisco Pride Festival Melts Down as Headliner Walks Out

A once-celebrated Pride-themed music festival in San Francisco, SoSF, has unexpectedly changed its name, venue, and headlining acts just days ahead of its scheduled debut. Now rebranded as the SF Pride Block Party, the event has faced sharp public attention following the withdrawal of pop star Kehlani and others amid political tensions surrounding the artist’s pro-Palestinian stance. With its digital presence vanished and key performers gone, the sudden shift has cast a curious shadow over what was promised to be a shining celebration of music, diversity, and Pride.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• SoSF event rebranded as SF Pride Block Party just days before launch

• Original venue Pier 80 changed to smaller Midway outdoor site

• Pop star Kehlani and other performers have exited the lineup

• Instagram account wiped of all posts; no final promotion visible

• Political tension surrounding Kehlani’s support for Palestine caused division

• Festival’s public statement triggered local backlash and key dropouts

In what was initially billed as a landmark moment for San Francisco’s Pride Month celebrations, the now-rebranded SF Pride Block Party has taken a dramatic turn just days before its scheduled date. Once headlined by chart-topping artists and backed by high-profile promoters, the event has now undergone a significant transformation—losing its star power, shifting venues, and erasing its online presence. While the show is still slated to take place on June 28, the shift in tone and presentation has cast a shadow over what was expected to be a vibrant cultural gathering.

A Festival’s Bright Beginning Turns Uncertain

When SoSF was first introduced to the public in April, it was met with an enthusiastic response. The event promised not only a powerful Pride celebration but a full-scale music experience. With big-name artists like Kehlani, Kim Petras, and Tinashe as headliners, a spacious venue at Pier 80—the same grounds that host the 45,000-attendee Portola Festival—and a theme of inclusivity and joy, the festival was positioned to become a cornerstone of the Pride season in San Francisco.

However, the excitement quickly turned to confusion as June approached. No ticketing blitz, no final performance teasers, no behind-the-scenes reels—SoSF’s Instagram page, once active and vibrant, was suddenly wiped clean. Even the event’s name had changed, now appearing as SF Pride Block Party. And the location? No longer the iconic Pier 80. It had been quietly moved to the outdoor area of Midway, a venue directly across the street and one of the organizing partners.

Star Performer Kehlani’s Withdrawal Sparks Questions

One of the major headliners and co-presenters of the original event, Kehlani, was notably absent from updated materials. By mid-June, it became clear that the artist had withdrawn from the event entirely. Kehlani has been a vocal supporter of Palestine throughout the war in Gaza, expressing clear criticism of the Israeli government and Zionism through social media and public statements.

These political views began to create ripple effects earlier in the year. In May, Cornell University canceled Kehlani’s scheduled performance, citing “antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.” Soon after, the New York City Mayor’s office reportedly pressured a nonprofit into canceling another performance by the artist, pointing to safety concerns.

Kehlani’s public positions, including use of the phrase “long live the Intifada” in a music video, drew strong reactions. But her absence from SF Pride Block Party seems tied not only to external criticism but also to how the event organizers responded to that controversy.

A Statement Meant for Healing Backfires

In an effort to manage the backlash, SoSF released a now-deleted statement on Instagram. The message attempted to strike a middle ground: acknowledging disagreement with Kehlani’s language, but defending the decision to keep her on the lineup. “While we fundamentally disagree with the kind of language Kehlani has used… we chose to engage with her team rather than withdraw her invitation,” the organizers wrote.

A follow-up joint statement by Kehlani and the festival said, “No person should ever fall casualty of a war they did not choose and do not support… This sentiment extends to Jewish people, the same way it extends to Palestinian people, the same way it extends to all people.”

The move, intended as a gesture of unity, instead triggered a wave of criticism from within the LGBTQ+ and local artistic community. Many viewed the statement as a sign the festival was aligning with institutions—such as Cornell and the NYC mayor’s office—that had taken steps to block Kehlani from performing. Among the loudest critics was San Francisco DJ Adam Kraft, founder of the popular event group Fake and Gay, who publicly withdrew from the lineup.

Community Reactions Turn Sour

According to Kraft, the local community saw the organizers’ distancing from Kehlani as a betrayal of the event’s original mission. “Everybody kind of piled on them in the comments,” he told media outlets. “I think there were hundreds of comments like, ‘What do you mean? What language?’” The festival’s social media presence was quickly flooded with dissent, and soon after, its entire Instagram profile was scrubbed.

What followed was a rapid sequence of departures—artists exiting, production downsizing, and the quiet rebranding of the event. The energetic anticipation that had surrounded SoSF had now dissolved into uncertainty.

What’s Next for SF Pride Block Party?

With the event still technically scheduled for Saturday, June 28, it remains to be seen what the final version of the SF Pride Block Party will look like. Will new artists be added to the bill? Will there be an official explanation? Will the community still show up?

In a city known for both its activism and its celebration of diversity, the unraveling of SoSF serves as a reminder of how political tensions can intersect with culture in deeply complex ways. And for many, it’s not just about a concert—it’s about what Pride stands for, and who gets to define it.