Kehlani‘s upcoming performance at Cornell University has been canceled due to what the school is calling her “antisemitic” views.
The singer has been an outspoken advocate for Palestine during the current war with Israel with her views now appearing to affect her career after she was pulled from a May 7 appearance at the university.
According to The New York Times, the decision was made by Cornell president Michael I. Kotlikoff who sent an email to staff and students.
It read in part: “In the days since Kehlani was announced, I have heard grave concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media.”
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Kotlikoff did not include evidence of Kehlani’s antisemitism though the university has been accused by the government of failing to combat antisemitism on campus and had their funding cut by $1 billion.
Kehlani is yet to comment on the decision.
The “Gangsta” singer has been outspoken about the war in Palestine and said recently during her Tiny Desk Concert: “I wanna take a second to say free Palestine, free Congo, free Sudan, free Yemen, free Hawaii, free Guam. Beyond a ceasefire, we need an end to the occupation. It’s deeper than this. I need everybody that’s here right now, everybody that’s watching to step up and use their voices.”
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She concluded: “Any difference you can make, it’s appreciated. Hire people [from those countries], send your money where it matters. We all we got.”
In May last year, Kehlani reaffirmed her stance for Palestine in the music video for “Next 2 U” and released merchandise for the song that is “made in Bethlehem in a family owned and run sewing workshop.” According to her website, all proceeds will be “distributed amongst Palestinian, Congolese, and Sudanese families through Operation Olive Branch.”
Weeks later, the Bay Area native took to social media and shared that said items sold out less than two weeks after they were first listed.
