Cornell University canceled a Kehlani performance over the singer-songwriter’s support for Palestine. President Michael Kotlikoff cited concerns over what he called Kehlani’s “antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media” in an April 23 email to students, the Cornell Daily Sun reported that day. Kehlani was announced as headliner of the university’s annual Slope Day on April 10. Since then, the student group Cornellians for Israel launched a petition against Kehlani’s booking on April 18, alleging she has a “history of promoting anti-Israel rhetoric and disinformation.” The group took issue with her 2024 music video for “Next 2 U” featuring the phrase “Long live the intifada,” the Arabic word for “uprising.” It also referenced some of her pro-Palestine Instagram Stories — even claiming one, reading “Long live resistance in all its forms,” “justifies the brutal attacks of October 7th.” The petition earned over 5,200 signatures in four days, per the Daily Sun.
During a meeting with concerned students on April 22, Kotlikoff suggested university police could “pull people out of the concert” for wearing keffiyehs, traditional headscarves that have become symbols of support for Palestine, the Daily Sun reported. “One of the things that concerns me is [if] somebody puts a sign, flag, a shawl in their pocket, goes in and then displays it during the concert,” he said. Kotlikoff previously stated at an April 17 student-assembly meeting that the university added a stipulation against “any political events at the performance” in Kehlani’s contract, per the Daily Sun. At that time, Kotlikoff said the university had been negotiating with Kehlani since October but learned about her support for Palestine “roughly three weeks ago.” Slope Day’s performers are booked by students.
Kehlani has been one of the more vocal supporters of Palestine in the music industry. Her “Next 2 U” video featured dancers wearing keffiyehs and Palestinian flags. The video concluded by directing viewers to a list of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza strip. She said last year that she doesn’t “regret” voicing support for Palestine even though it led her to lose magazine features and brand deals: “I can look myself in the mirror and know I did the right thing.”
