Cornell University Cancels Kehlani Concert Over Singer’s Pro-Palestine Remarks

Cornell has canceled an upcoming Kehlani concert at the university over the singer’s past pro-Palestine statements, Cornell president Michael I. Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the student body Wednesday.

Kehlani was originally slated to perform at Cornell’s annual Slope Day event May 7, but her selection had “injected division and discord” into the event, Kotlikoff wrote in the letter, claiming that students had reached out “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.”

“While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it,” Kotlikoff wrote.

Kehlani has voiced her support for Palestine in the past, including in a music video for her song “Next 2 U” last year, where she danced and sang in front of a Palestinian flag and opened the video with the message “long live the intifada.”

At the end of the video, Kehlani shared a message saying she tried “honoring the names of thousands of deceased children” but that the list was too long and she linked to an article in Al Jazeera instead.

A rep for Kehlani didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.

Kotlikoff said he spoke with the Slope Day Programming Board, who he said “agree that this selection has compromised what is meant to be an inclusive event.” Kotlikoff said a new lineup would be announced soon.

The music industry’s response to the Israel-Gaza conflict has been a hot-button topic in the business since war broke out after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023. The Irish hip hop group Kneecap courted significant controversy for their statements during their Coachella set over the weekend, sharing a messages on the screen behind them that said “fuck Israel, free Palestine,” while also claiming the U.S. is supporting genocide.

Jewish members of the music business have strongly deplored the performance and criticized Coachella for platforming the group, with groups like the Creative Community For Peace they reached out to organizers before Kneecap’s performance urging them to reconsider.  “At a time of record levels of antisemitism, it is outrageous that AEG and Goldenvoice allowed this to happen,” the CCFP’s executive director Ari Ingel said Sunday.

Sharon Osbourne called for the band’s visas to be revoked. The band responded to the criticism Wednesday, with band member Mo Chara telling Rolling Stone in an email that “we believe we have an obligation to use our platform when we can to raise the issue of Palestine,” adding that the free Palestine chant during their set was “a message of solidarity to the people of Gaza.”