Kehlani has issued a heartfelt response to Cornell University's controversial decision to ax her much-anticipated concert, a move prompted by the singer's stance regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza. Earlier this week, Cornell's President, Michael I. Kotlikoff, announced the cancellation of Kehlani's May 7 performance during the university's annual Slope Day festivities, citing her alleged "propagation of antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments across her performances, videos, and social media platforms."
In an emotional letter addressed to students, Kotlikoff stated, "The appointment of Kehlani as this year's headliner has sown seeds of division and discord within Slope Day. Consequently, I am rescinding Kehlani's invitation."
Amidst the backdrop of "numerous attempted cancellations, heaping onto those I've already endured over the past year," Kehlani addressed the Cornell saga and the antisemitism accusations in an Instagram video posted on Saturday. "I am neither antisemitic nor anti-Jew," she declared emphatically. "I stand firmly against genocide, against the actions undertaken by the Israeli government, against the attempted extermination of an entire populace, and against the bombing of innocent children, men, and women. These are the things I oppose."
Kehlani clarified that she was "urged and called upon to elucidate" the antisemitism claims, which reportedly arose from her use of the phrase "Long Live the Intifada" in the music video for "Next 2 U." Hence, she posted the video statement, recorded, as she noted, "in the company of my Jewish and Palestinian best friend, as well as my Jewish engineer."
In the caption accompanying her Instagram post, Kehlani added, "Should you seek to deprive me of opportunities, base it on your Zionism. Do not mischaracterize it as anti-Jew. This is a worn-out tactic. All of this stems from our desire to halt the loss of life."
