Cornell University is facing backlash after booking Kehlani to perform at the school’s Slope Day concert on May 7.
The 29-year-old Oakland singer has been outspoken in her support for Palestine amidst the ongoing mass genocide and occupation by Israel. This has led some students and parents to voice opposition to her appearance at the event.
Kehlani has publicly supported Palestine, particularly through social media posts, and she featured the Palestinian flag in the music video for her May 2024 single, “Next 2 U.” This political stance has drawn the ire of certain members of the Cornell community, who raised concerns during a recent student assembly.
In response to the growing criticism, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff acknowledged that the school became aware of Kehlani’s views about three weeks ago. While the university decided it was too late to book a different performer, Kotlikoff revealed that Kehlani’s contract had been amended to prohibit any political statements during her performance. He added that any political comments would result in a complete forfeiture of her payment for the event.
Meanwhile, a campus group called Cornellians For Israel launched a GoFundMe campaign to hire a different act, citing Kehlani’s pro-Palestinian views and their desire for a more entertaining and politically neutral performer.
Kehlani, who has also called out peers for their silence regarding the Gaza genocide, voiced her frustration on social media, saying, “It’s fk Israel, fk Zionism, and f**k a lot of y’all, too,” in a now-deleted post. Despite the controversy, her booking remains in place, with political statements now prohibited during the performance.
