Kehlani has addressed her removal from an upcoming Cornell University concert over her pro-Palestinian views.
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Last week (April 25), it was reported that the singer’s invitation to perform at Cornell’s May 7 Slope Day concert was being rescinded after students and the community raised concerns about her support for Palestine in the Israel-Gaza war.
Kehlani has now seemingly commented on her removal from the Slope Day concert, taking to social media over the weekend to address the matter. In a video – which was originally posted onto TikTok, the singer made clear her stance on the war, flanked by her Jewish-Palestinian best friend and Jewish studio engineer.
She said: “I am being asked and called to clarify and make a statement yet again for the millionth time that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew. I am anti-genocide, I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti an extermination of an entire people, I’m anti the bombing of innocent children, men women… that’s what I’m anti.”
Kehlani went on to add that one of her first times going public about her views on the matter at the start of the conflict was together with Jewish organisation Jewish Voices for Peace, once again reiterating that she’s not anti-Jew, she just can’t support the killing of innocent people.
She wrote in her caption: “ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR. from day one it’s been clear. I know you’ve seen Cornell University cancelled my show, and now there are attempts at other cancellations on top of the cancellations I’ve already experienced over the past year.”
“If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your zionism. Don’t make it anti-Jew. This is a played out game. All this because we want people to stop dying.”
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Her address comes after an email from Cornell University president Michael I. Kotlikoff to its students was leaked to the media. In his email, Kotlikoff wrote that the booking of the singer had “injected division and discord” at Cornell, due to her making what were felt to be “antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.”
According to Kotlikoff, the rescinding of Kehlani’s invite to perform comes after students and members of “the community” voiced their anger and confusion “that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media.” His decision to cancel her performance was made after spending “days talking privately with many students”.
Kotlikoff noted that “while any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views,” her inclusion in the performance line-up “has compromised what is meant to be an inclusive event”.
Kehlani has long been vocal and public about her support of Palestine over the years. In 2024, she released a music vide for ‘Next 2 U’, in which she appeared in front of Palestinian flags and wore a suit stitched with keffiyeh scarf materials. The video also included the words “long live the intifada”, which is often chanted at protests over the Gaza-Israel war.
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In similar events, Irish rap trio and former NME The Cover stars Kneecap have seen calls from the likes of Sharon Osbourne to have their working visas revoked in the US after their recent headline-making Coachella performances. Their two sets at the festival also reportedly left organisers “blindsided” due to their overtly political nature, including showing pro-Palestine projections on the screen behind them and encouraging the audience to chant “Free, Free Palestine”.
Kneecap have since called the controversy “a coordinated smear campaign” against their efforts in “exposing the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.
“For over a year, we have used our shows to call out the British and Irish governments’ complicity in war crimes. The recent attacks against us, largely emanating from the US, are based on deliberate distortions and falsehoods,” they said, adding that they are “taking action against several of these malicious efforts”.
“The reason Kneecap is being targeted is simple — we are telling the truth, and our audience is growing,” the statement read. “Those attacking us want to silence criticism of a mass slaughter. They weaponize false accusations of antisemitism to distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide,” bringing up “massive numbers of Jewish people” who are “outraged by this genocide just as we are”.
“What we care about is that governments of the countries we perform in are enabling some of the most horrific crimes of our lifetimes — and we will not stay silent. No media spin will change this,” they wrote. “Our only concern is the Palestinian people — the 20,000 murdered children and counting.”
The group are reportedly now in the process of securing a new sponsor for renewed US visas for their October tour after they were dropped by their former sponsor and booking agent Independent Artist Group (IAG) earlier this week. Their upcoming US tour is still scheduled to proceed at the time of writing.
The post Kehlani addresses being kicked off Cornell University concert: “I am not antisemitic, nor anti-Jew. I am anti-genocide” appeared first on NME.
