Cornell has canceled an upcoming Kehlani live performance on the college over the singer’s previous pro-Palestine statements, Cornell president Michael I. Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the coed physique Wednesday.
Kehlani was initially slated to carry out at Cornell’s annual Slope Day occasion Might 7, however her choice had “injected division and discord” into the occasion, Kotlikoff wrote within the letter, claiming that college students had reached out “indignant, harm, and confused that Slope Day would function a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, movies, and on social media.”
“Whereas any artist has the proper in our nation to specific hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our neighborhood, not dividing it,” Kotlikoff wrote.
Kehlani has voiced her assist for Palestine up to now, together with in a music video for her music “Subsequent 2 U” final 12 months, the place she danced and sang in entrance of a Palestinian flag and opened the video with the message “lengthy stay the intifada.”
On the finish of the video, Kehlani shared a message saying she tried “honoring the names of hundreds of deceased youngsters” however that the listing was too lengthy and she or he linked to an article in Al Jazeera as an alternative.
A rep for Kehlani didn’t instantly reply to request for remark.
Kotlikoff mentioned he spoke with the Slope Day Programming Board, who he mentioned “agree that this choice has compromised what is supposed to be an inclusive occasion.” Kotlikoff mentioned a brand new lineup can be introduced quickly.
The music trade’s response to the Israel-Gaza battle has been a hot-button matter within the enterprise since warfare broke out after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis on the Nova Competition on October 7, 2023. The Irish hip hop group Kneecap courted vital controversy for his or her statements throughout their Coachella set over the weekend, sharing a messages on the display screen behind them that mentioned “fuck Israel, free Palestine,” whereas additionally claiming the U.S. is supporting genocide.
Jewish members of the music enterprise have strongly deplored the efficiency and criticized Coachella for platforming the group, with teams just like the Inventive Neighborhood For Peace they reached out to organizers earlier than Kneecap’s efficiency urging them to rethink. “At a time of file ranges of antisemitism, it’s outrageous that AEG and Goldenvoice allowed this to occur,” the CCFP’s govt director Ari Ingel mentioned Sunday.
Sharon Osbourne referred to as 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 electronic mail that “we imagine we’ve an obligation to make use of our platform after we can to lift the problem of Palestine,” including that the free Palestine chant throughout their set was “a message of solidarity to the folks of Gaza.”
