Kelahani will not be performing in the Ivy League.
Cornell University has canceled a scheduled concert because of their stance on the war in Gaza, The New York Times.
After being slated to headline Cornell University’s annual Slope Day concert event on May 7, the school’s executive leadership rescinded the invitation.
Michael I. Kotlikoff wrote that the decision to have Kehlani perform “injected division and discord.”
“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 in a statement.
Kotlikoff aslo noted that he came to his decision following a meeting with members of the student board that planned the concert. According to Kotlikoff, the board members agreed that their choice had “compromised what is meant to be an inclusive event.
Anticipating backlash, Kotlikoff is well aware that cancelling the show will be”celebrated by some and criticized by others,” but he believes its “the right thing to do.”
Cornellians for Israel, a student group, deamsnded that the school to replace Kehlani as the headliner. On Instagram last week, the group wrote that selecting Kehlani as the headliner “effectively communicates that Israeli, Jewish, and Zionist students are not a welcome part of that community.”
Muna Mohamed, a senior at Cornell and co-chair of Black Students United at Cornell, expressed her disappointment in the school’s decision.
“I was ecstatic,” Mohamed, who’s also a queer person of color said. “To see it kind of torn from us so quickly, it was kind of like, oh, our happiness never really mattered in the long run.”
In the past, Kehlani has not been shy their views on the conflicts in Gaza. For her single “Next 2 U” Kehlani featured background dancers performing with Palestinian flags while wearing suits that incorporate keffiyehs.
Taking to Instagram in May 2024, Kehlani explained why they were in solidarity with the Palestinians.
“As an artist, I was nervous. terrified. worried after losing so much of what id valued for an album i worked incredibly hard on to my humanity, paired with the crippling wonder of what music is appropriate to drop during the most historical tragedies of our generation,” they wrote.
“I remembered my favorite revolutionary poets, singers, filmmakers. I remembered how much impact we have,” Kehlani continued. “I thought about my favorite James Baldwin quotes about the role of an artist in society. I listened to this song enough to recognize a love song IS a protector’s song IS revolution.”
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