Cornell cancels Kehlani performance over stance on Gaza

Cornell University has dropped singer Kehlani from its annual Slope Day concert, citing concerns over her views on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The university’s decision followed campus-wide backlash surrounding Kehlani’s outspoken support for Palestinians, which some students and administrators viewed as divisive and antisemitic.

In an April 23 email to the Cornell community, President Michael I. Kotlikoff said the singer’s inclusion had “injected division and discord” into what is intended to be a unifying campus event. Critics pointed to a 2024 music video in which Kehlani wore a kaffiyeh-adorned jacket and dancers waved Palestinian flags, with the phrase “Long Live the Intifada” appearing on screen. Kotlikoff noted that the university had received “grave concerns” from students and faculty regarding the singer’s past public statements and social media posts.

Criticism intensified following the announcement of the Slope Day lineup, particularly from Cornellians for Israel, a student group that claimed Kehlani’s presence would marginalize Jewish and Zionist students. The group launched a petition and a GoFundMe campaign, raising over $28,500 to fund a replacement act.

The decision also comes amid broader federal scrutiny of university responses to antisemitism. Earlier this month, the White House froze $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell as part of an investigation into alleged campus discrimination.

Not all students agreed with the university’s choice. Muna Mohamed, a senior and co-chair of Black Students United, said she was disappointed, describing the cancellation as a dismissal of inclusive representation for queer students and students of color.

Kehlani has not publicly commented on the decision. In past interviews, she acknowledged the backlash she received over her stance on Gaza. No replacement has been named for the May 7 event, which now faces renewed scrutiny over inclusion and campus free speech.