Cornell University drops Kehlani as an end of school year concert headliner after controversy

Cornell University has canceled R&B singer Kehlani’s performance at its annual end-of-year concert, Slope Day. The decision came after students and members of the campus community raised concerns about Kehlani’s past statements and actions related to Israel and Palestine. The university leadership responded by choosing to remove the artist in hopes of keeping the event unifying and inclusive.

University President Michael Kotlikoff announced in a formal message. He said that several students had been upset, offended, and perplexed upon hearing the news of Kehlani as the headliner. The reasons were her open criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian causes, which some students considered to be antisemitic.

The university at first stated that it was too late to alter the performer. But after further talks and persistent pressure from student organizations, the school reversed its position. Kehlani was dropped from the lineup, and university administrators vowed to make a better selection process for future performers.

Why was Kehlani removed from the concert lineup?

Kehlani was removed after a number of student groups complained about her previous comments. She has publicly denounced Israel's Gaza military campaigns. She also wore a kaffiyeh, the symbol of Palestine, in a video and incorporated the words "Long Live the Intifada" in her 2024 clip "Next 2 U." These gestures were considered by many to be supportive of violence and insulting to Jewish students.

She also refused to condemn the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Also, she posted a map of the world that excluded the state of Israel. To many people in the Cornell community, those actions crossed an important line. They felt that inviting her to play at Slope Day would send the wrong message.

The university decided that Slope Day should be an event that brings people together. Officials felt her presence would cause more division, not unity. After taking this feedback into account, the school chose to remove her from the event.

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What was the response from the Cornell community?

The response from student organizations and students was overwhelming. Numerous pro-Israel student organizations organized protests and petitions requesting that the university drop her. They indicated that her words made them unsafe and unwelcome on campus. They felt that permitting her to perform would mean that the school was not considering their issues seriously.

Some students said that the university did not do enough research before choosing the performer. They felt disappointed and frustrated by the situation. After her performance was canceled, these students said they were thankful that their voices were heard.

Others on the campus felt that canceling the show was an exaggeration. They maintained that she was making political statements and voicing support for human rights. They thought the cancellation of her appearance was censoring her. This indicates the issue provoked fierce debate on the campus.

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Cornell University canceled her Slope Day performance due to concerns over her political views and their impact on students. The decision came after petitions, protests, and private talks with students. The university stated that it wants Slope Day to unite the campus, not divide it.

This situation also reflects larger concerns about antisemitism and free speech on college campuses. Cornell plans to change how it picks performers for future events to prevent such issues from happening again.

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