Cornell University cancels Kehlani concert over singer’s pro-Palestine stance

Cornell University has cancelled popular R&B singer Kehlani’s planned concert for their pro-Palestine views, sparking a wave of students voicing their disappointment with the decision.

Kehlani was scheduled to perform at the annual end of semester ‘Slope Day’ concert, in an announcement that was made on 10 April, however the Cornellians for Israel student group called on the institution to revoke the invitation.

Following an initial notice from Cornell’s President that said it was "too late" to find another performer, an email was sent on Wednesday stating that the performance had indeed been cancelled.

"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," Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff, Cornell President claimed in the email.

He went on to say that an alternative performer will soon be announced, although there was no indication on who it would be. It also stated that the institution would now be revising the process it takes to research and select performers in the future.

The US has seen an increasing crackdown on pro-Palestine sentiment, with foreign students being detained simply for expressing opposition to Israel's brutal war on Gaza, and Americans who speak out often labelled "antisemitic" by supporters of Israel.

The decision to cancel the performance comes after the singer reportedly released a music video last year, along with the message "Long live the Intifada (uprising)".

Last month, Kehalani hit out at Israel amid its ongoing war on Gaza, which has killed over 51,000 people writing: "It’s f*** Israel, f*** Zionism and it’s f*** a lot of y’all too".

The message was directed at artists Kehlani said were staying silent on Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and the plight of Palestinians.

In a music video for the single "Next 2 U," Kehlani can also be seen in an outfit with elements of the Keffiyeh incorporated in it, while their backup dancers waved Palestinian flags.

The video commenced with a quote from Palestinian American poet Hala Alyan, reading: "Keep your moon, we have our own, keep your army, we have our name, keep your flag, we have fruit and in, all the right colours."

The description of the video called on fans and viewers to support aid efforts in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

Proceeds from merchandise t-shirts for the song sold will go to Palestinian, Congolese and Sudanese families through the Operation Olive Branch initiative.

In a statement on Kehlani’s social media platforms last year, the singer said their team attempted to honour the names of the thousands of children killed by Israel in Gaza, but "the list was so long that our fastest scroll at three minutes was illegible".

Kehlani is not the only singer to use their art form to protest the war on Gaza and shed light on the plight of Palestinians.

Last year, rapper Macklemore released a viral song called "Hind’s Hall," referring to the Columbia University building that student protesters occupied and renamed after Hind Rajab – a 6-year-old Palestinian girl repeatedly shot dead by Israeli forces while she was pleading for help from emergency services.