Oakland singer responds to Ivy League concert cancellation: ‘I am not antisemitic'
Kehlani has responded to Cornell University's decision to cancel her upcoming campus concert due to her stance on the war in Gaza.
The Oakland singer's performance at the Ivy League's end-of-school-year Slope Day on May 7 was nixed by the school's president, Michael Kotlikoff, last week due to what he has deemed 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.'
But the 'After Hours' singer contends, 'I am not antisemitic nor am I anti-Jew,' in a video posted to Instagram on Saturday, April 26.
She pointed out that she was with her Jewish and Palestinian best friend and Jewish engineer while recording the clip.
'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,' she said.
Kehlani noted that she was 'asked and called to clarify' the antisemitism allegations, which largely stemmed from her 2024 music video for the song 'Next 2 U.' The video included the phrase 'long live the intifada,' which translates to 'uprising' or 'resistance' in Arabic but is regarded by some as a call for violence against Jewish people. It also featured Palestinian flags and keffiyehs, a traditional Arabic scarf often associated with Palestinian identity.
'I'm asked to clarify because this keeps coming up as a means to silence me … as a means to change the course of my life, and I just don't believe that,' she explained, emphasizing that she continues to learn from and work with 'really impactful Jewish organizers against this genocide' such as the nonprofit organization Jewish Voice for Peace.
'So here's the clarification … I hope this is everything you needed straight from my mouth.'
The singer, who has also used her social media to express explicit outrage against Israel, Zionism and the violence on the Gaza Strip, revealed in the post's caption that she has experienced 'attempts at other cancellations' since Cornell's decision last week.
'If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your Zionism. Don't make it anti-Jew,' she wrote.
Kehlani's scheduled performance at Cornell was controversial from the moment it was announced, particularly sparking outrage among the school's Jewish community. The student group Cornellians for Israel even started a GoFundMe campaign, which raised more than $28,000, to help pay for a replacement performer.
Kotlikoff noted that after speaking with students and the Slope Day Programming Board, he decided that selecting Kehlani as a performer 'compromised what is meant to be an inclusive event.'
Despite initially telling the student body that it was 'too late' to find a replacement performer, he noted last week that a new lineup will be 'announced shortly.'
Kehlani concluded by assuring fans and haters alike that she will continue to perform and make music.
'I want to be very clear in stating that I do believe God has plans for me,' she said. 'Back to my album.'
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