R&B singer Kehlani, known for her pro-Palestinian views, had been invited to perform at Cornell University‘s annual Slope Day concert by a student board. The April 10th announcement of the invitation drew protests from the student group Cornellians for Israel, who called on the school’s leadership to cancel the concert.
Kehlani has publicly said “F**k Israel” and “F***k Zionism” on Instagram, and her recent music video included “Long Live the Intifada” imagery.
Initially, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff told students that it was “too late” to hire another performer, adding that the singer’s contract had been modified “to mitigate any political displays.”
But on Wednesday, April 23rd, in an email sent to the Cornell community, Kotlikoff announced that Kehlani’s performance had been canceled.
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
Kotlikoff said, adding: “While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.”
