Kehlani reaffirms 'anti-genocide' stance after Cornell cancels concert over Palestine activism

R&B singer Kehlani has spoken out after their concert at Cornell University was cancelled this month over support for Palestine and criticism of Israel, following accusations of alleged antisemitism.

Cornell University cancelled the singer's appearance at its annual campus concert, set to take place on 7 May. The university's president, Michael Kotlikoff, said it was over Kehlani's "espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media".

Posting a video to Instagram on Sunday, the singer clarified her stance, saying: "I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew."

"I am anti-genocide, I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti an extermination of an entire people, I'm anti the bombing of innocent children, men, women, that's what I'm anti."

The singer added they are currently working on a new album with their "Jewish and Palestinian best friend" as well as an engineer who is also Jewish.

Kehalani stated they are also working with the rights group Jewish Voice for Peace and continues to learn from the organisation.

'Cancellations on top of cancellations'

Kehlani added that there have been "attempts at other cancellations on top of the cancellations" they have already experienced over the past year.

"If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your Zionism. Don't make it anti-jew," the singer wrote in a caption on social media.

"This is a played-out game. All this because we want people to stop dying," the caption continued. 

The allegations reportedly stem from the singer using the phrase "Long Live the Intifada" in the music video for their song "Next 2 U". While pro-Israel activists have claimed that the phrase calls for the overthrow of the "Jewish state", it refers to 'uprising' against oppression. 

The R&B singer also previously wore an outfit with elements of the keffiyeh in a music video, with backup dancers waving the Palestinian flag.

In the description of the video, the singer called on fans to support aid efforts for Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The video also started 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."

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

Khelani has previously been vocal on their support for Palestine since the start of the war on Gaza, writingg on Instagram: "It's f*** Israel, f*** Zionism and it's f*** a lot of y'all too", directed at artists the singer claims were staying silent over Israel's war on Gaza, saying they had lost "any ounce of f****** respect" for them.