Central NY college cancels concert over singer’s ‘antisemitic’ comments – Syracuse.com
2025-04-24T17:35:00Z
The Grammy-nominated artist has spoken out publicly in support of Palestine.
A Central New York college has canceled a singer’s performance at an upcoming concert over their alleged “antisemitic” comments.
Cornell University announced Thursday that Kehalni will no longer be performing at the Ithaca school’s “Slope Day” event on May 7. Cornell President Michael I. Kotlikoff said he had “grave concerns” after hearing complaints about “a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media.”
Kehlani, a Grammy-nominated R&B singer known for hits like “Gangsta,” “Nights Like This” and “After Hours,” made headlines last year when they featured Palestinian flags and dancers wearing keffiyehs in her “Next 2 U” music video. Rolling Stone reports the video included a link to an Al Jazeera article listing names of children Israel has killed since October 2023 and the phrase “Long Live the Intifada.”
Intifada, an Arabic word for “uprising” or “resistance,” is seen by some as a call for violence against Israelis and Jews, according to the Associated Press.
“While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it,” Kotlikoff said. “I understand that my decision will be celebrated by some and criticized by others. I believe it is the right thing to do and the decision I must make to ensure community and safety at this high-profile event that reaches the entire campus. Cornell is an institution where ‘any person can find instruction in any study,’ and where every person should feel included at the signature social event of the year.”
A new performer will be announced soon for Slope Day, Kotlikoff said. The New York Times reported that he previously claimed time had run out to replace Kehlani.
The move comes weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration froze $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell over alleged civil rights violations and protests over the war in Gaza on campus. The school has sued the Trump administration twice this year, alleging cuts to its research grants are violating federal regulations.
Kehlani, an Oakland, California native whose full name is Kehlani Ashley Parrish, has not commented on the cancellation, which came on the same day as their 30th birthday.
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