Latest news with #Jew-bashing
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NYC blasted for tapping anti-Israel performer Kehlani for taxpayer-funded Central Park Pride concert
Jew-bashing performer Kehlani is set to take the stage at a taxpayer-funded Pride event in Central Park this summer — a week after her show at Cornell University was canceled following a massive uproar. The City Park's Foundation — a taxpayer-funded organization — invited the controversial singer to perform at the city's Summer Stage series in June for a benefit concert advertised as 'PRIDE WITH KEHLANI.' The singer notoriously posted a music video last spring that begins with 'Long live the Intifada' — a phrase that is widely criticized as implying violence towards the Jewish community. The announcement prompted Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres to send a letter to City officials slamming their decision to feature the divisive musician. The letter, addressed to Mayor Eric Adams and head of the City Parks Foundation Heather Lubov, along with Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino, outlined some of Kehlani's particularly hateful remarks. 'Kehlani has a history of hate, marked by rhetoric calling for an 'Intifada Revolution,' the 'dismantling of Israel,' and the 'eradication of Zionism,'' the South Bronx representative wrote. 'America's largest city has no business subsidizing or sanitizing antisemitism at taxpayer expense,' he added on X. 'Stop mainstreaming the extremes and inviting those who invite violence.' Cornell University disinvited Kehlani from performing at their end-of-year concert after an influx of backlash from students. Student group Cornellians for Israel launched a petition and a GoFundMe to boycott the school's 'Slope Day' event if they allowed her to perform. Members of New York's Jewish community have also expressed serious concerns about the city's decision to showcase Kehlani. 'Utilizing city taxpayer money to support hate speech is unacceptable,' said Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), who sits on the Jewish Caucus. 'These concerts should be celebrating inclusiveness and the great diversity of our city, not demonizing any group and calling for its eradication,' she said. Mark Treyger, CEO of Jewish Community Relations Council of New York also expressed his dismay with the city's decision. 'An individual who refers to Jews as the `f–cking scum of the earth' and calls for their annihilation has no business performing in the heart of New York City, which happens to be home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Period,' Treyger said. The city parks department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the mayor said, without further explanation, that the parks department doesn't 'select, contract, or pay the artists.' 'City Parks Foundation raises private funds to support its programming and receives City Council discretionary awards,' the spokesperson added. Hizzoner later reitered that in a post on X responding to Torres. 'Congressmember, now you know @NYCParks does not select, contract, or pay the artists, and does not fund the City Parks Foundation at all. It's a private organization and the only taxpayer funds it can receive are City Council discretionary awards, just like you advocated for when you were a councilmember and allocated funding for the City Parks Foundation,' Adams wrote. 'We'll formally respond to the letter you sent us, but your letter should be addressed to Speaker Adams and her councilmembers who have control over their own discretionary funding. 'Our administration will not fund organizations that promote antisemitism or any other form of hate.' But Torres doubled down. 'The City Charter grants the Mayor the authority to impound city funds. You unquestionably have the power to withhold city funding from any organization or event that provides a platform for antisemitism,' he responded on X. 'I find it hard to believe that the most powerful elected official in New York City is powerless to act on a city matter involving city funds.' Benefit concerts, like the Kehlani concert, also fund the festival.
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Anti-Israel singer Kehlani's taxpayer-funded Central Park concert canceled after Adams ramps up pressure
The Big Apple has pulled the plug on the planned controversial Central Park concert featuring Jew-bashing performer Kehlani — after pressure from City Hall, The Post has learned. The City Park's Foundation, a taxpayer-funded organization, canceled the Summer Stage benefit concert, which was billed as 'PRIDE WITH KEHLANI,' after intense fallout from the announcement, sources said. The move comes just hours after the Adams administration sent a letter to the foundation, which was obtained by The Post, threatening to pull the licenses for all of the summer series' shows over the concert. 'Long live the Intifada' is widely criticized as implying violence toward the Jewish community. Kehiani/Youtube 'We write to advise you that we have security concerns about this event, given the controversy surrounding Kehlani's scheduled performance at Cornell University (causing University officials to cancel the appearance), the security precautions needed for an event like this in Central Park, and the security demands throughout the City for other Pride events during this same period of time,' First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro wrote in the May 5 letter. The foundation said in a statement, 'We strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expression of all kinds. 'However, the safety and security of our guests and artists is of the utmost importance and in light of these concerns, the concert has been cancelled.' Kehlani is known for her controversial music video that begins with 'Long live the Intifada,' which invokes violent acts on the Jewish community. City Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) praised nixing the singer's event, saying, 'Cancelling this concert was 100 percent the correct course of action. The City Park's Foundation — a taxpayer-funded organization — invited Kehlani to perform at the city's Summer Stage series in June for a benefit concert. Central Park 'City parks should celebrate inclusivity and not seek to eradicate or denigrate any community with hate speech,' she said, adding, 'Taxpayer dollars should not be utilized to promote hate speech against any group.' Kehlani had another concert canceled at Cornell University for an end-of-year bash after pushback from the student body. The city and Park's Foundation have both said they played no role in picking the performer. The summer series is funded by public funds, and the foundation is used as a fundraising arm for the city's Parks Department.
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Cornell University disinvites anti-Israel performer Kehlani from end-of-year concert after wave of backlash
Cornell University on Wednesday canned Jew-bashing entertainer Kehlani's upcoming on campus performance after facing overwhelming backlash over the decision to host the anti-Israel musician. President Michael Kotlikoff said he'd rescinded the Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist's invitation to perform next month at the university's 'Slope Day' end-of-year celebration — just days after the school initially defended the move. 3 Kehlani Advertisement 3 Kehlani attends the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards 2025 in Partnership with Google Shopping on April 08, 2025. Getty Images for Fashion Trust U.S. 'Unfortunately, although it was not the intention, the selection of Kehlani as this year's headliner has injected division and discord into Slope Day,' he said in a letter to students and staff. 'In the days since Kehlani was announced, I have heard grave concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt, and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media.' 3 Cornell University sparked outrage over Kehlani's invitation to perform on campus. Advertisement 'While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it,' he added.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cornell claims it somehow didn't know about Jew-bashing Kehlani's anti-Israel stance — and says it's too late to cancel performance
Cornell University gets an F in research. School president Michael Kotlikoff claimed the upstate Ivy League school wasn't aware of Jew-bashing musician Kehlani's anti-Israel stance — despite the information being available with a simple online search. Kotlikoff told the Cornell Student Assembly it was now 'too late' to dump the singer-songwriter and switch to another performer for Slope Day, the university's end-of-year celebration to be held on May 7. 'We found out about the social media of this performer roughly three weeks ago,' Kotlikoff said, according to the The Cornell Daily Sun. 'It's too late to secure another performer that will be acceptable or appropriate for Slope Day,' he told students. Kotlikoff claimed that university brass and organizers were unaware of Kehlani's political views when beginning negotiations for her to perform last October. But even basic research would have turned up her views on social media supporting violence against Israel, outraged students and faculty said Monday. In a sign of mounting backlash, members of the student group Cornellians for Israel have launched a petition and GoFundMe drive demanding that the school replace Kehlani with another performer — or they will boycott the event and select their own entertainer to headline a unifying counter-concert on the Ithaca campus. The furor comes after President Trump's administration froze $1 billion in federal funding to the elite school amid a civil-rights probe over whether it failed to prevent antisemitic discrimination and harassment on campus. 'It's honestly laughable that they claim they were unaware of her glorification of violence, endorsement of an intifada, or demonization of Jews,' said Amanda Silberstein, a 21-year-old junior who is president of the school's Chabad Center and vice president of Cornellians for Israel. 'It doesn't take a private investigator to uncover that—just a quick look at her social media.' As the Post reported Sunday, the watchdog group StopAntisemitism exposed Kehlani anti-Israel and antisemitic views in a July 12, 2024 post. A single google search with the words 'Kehlani' and 'Israel' provides scores of Instagram hits about her hostility toward the Jewish state. The multi-Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist herself posted a music video last spring that starts with 'Long live the Intifada' — an inflammatory phrase that critics say promotes violence against Israelis and Jews. She also shared a map online that eliminates the state of Israel and refused to condemn Hamas for the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. 'What's most frustrating is the hypocrisy at play. If she had a track record of attacking any other marginalized group, there's no doubt Cornell would have moved quickly to find a replacement,' Silberstein pointed out. 'But when it comes to antisemitism, the bar is somehow lower. All we're asking for is to be afforded the same level of care and protection as every other student on this campus.' Silberstein said Slope Day is a festival that is supposed to unite the student body. 'Instead,' she said, 'this decision has fractured it — leaving many Jewish students like myself feeling abandoned by the very school that claims to prioritize inclusion and safety for all.' If Cornell doesn't cancel Kehlani's performance, Silberstein said the pro-Israel group will find a 'non-political, unifying' voice to be featured at a counter-event somewhere on campus. Faculty members were also disgusted by the divisive controversy. 'Selection of a performer who openly supports an Intifada and war against Israel reflects a toxic campus culture that the administration has ignored,' said Cornell law professor William Jacobson, founder of the civil rights group StopAntisemitism, a Jewish advocacy group, urged Cornell brass to do the right thing by not promoting or condoning a hate-mongering entertainer. 'President Kotlikoff's excuse that it's `too late to cancel' is a cowardly abdication of leadership. There is never a deadline on doing what is right,' said StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez. 'If the performer held views targeting any other minority group, the university would act swiftly. Jewish students deserve the same protection and respect.' Kolitkoff said the administration inserted a clause in Kehlani's contract prohibiting her from discussing her her political views during the performance. He also said Kehlani didn't voice her opinions during performances on her recent 'Crash World Tour,' which included a finale at Northeastern University. 'That was a sold-out concert that had no political events,' Kotlikoff said, according to the Cornell Sun. 'And by all accounts, a very successful performance.' Cornell has been roiled by numerous anti-Israel protests over the past year and Jewish students' lives have been threatened. Student Patrick Da pleaded guilty last year to threatening to kill Jews in posts on the university's website.
New York Post
21-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Cornell claims it somehow didn't know about Jew-bashing Kehlani's anti-Israel stance — and says it's too late to cancel performance
Cornell University gets an F in research. School president Michael Kotlikoff claimed the upstate Ivy League school wasn't aware of Jew-bashing musician Kehlani's anti-Israel stance — despite the information being available with a simple online search. Kotlikoff told the Cornell Student Assembly it was now 'too late' to dump the singer-songwriter and switch to another performer for Slope Day, the university's end-of-year celebration to be held on May 7. 'We found out about the social media of this performer roughly three weeks ago,' Kotlikoff said, according to the The Cornell Daily Sun. 4 Cornell University's President Michael Kotlikoff claimed the upstate Ivy League school wasn't aware of Jew-bashing musician Kehlani's anti-Israel stance. Cornell University 'It's too late to secure another performer that will be acceptable or appropriate for Slope Day,' he told students. Kotlikoff claimed that university brass and organizers were unaware of Kehlani's political views when beginning negotiations for her to perform last October. But even basic research would have turned up her views on social media supporting violence against Israel, outraged students and faculty said Monday. In a sign of mounting backlash, members of the student group Cornellians for Israel have launched a petition and GoFundMe drive demanding that the school replace Kehlani with another performer — or they will boycott the event and select their own entertainer to headline a unifying counter-concert on the Ithaca campus. The furor comes after President Trump's administration froze $1 billion in federal funding to the elite school amid a civil-rights probe over whether it failed to prevent antisemitic discrimination and harassment on campus. 'It's honestly laughable that they claim they were unaware of her glorification of violence, endorsement of an intifada, or demonization of Jews,' said Amanda Silberstein, a 21-year-old junior who is president of the school's Chabad Center and vice president of Cornellians for Israel. 'It doesn't take a private investigator to uncover that—just a quick look at her social media.' 4 Kotlikoff told the Cornell Student Assembly it was now 'too late' to dump Kehlani and switch to another performer for Slope Day. As the Post reported Sunday, the watchdog group StopAntisemitism exposed Kehlani anti-Israel and antisemitic views in a July 12, 2024 post. A single google search with the words 'Kehlani' and 'Israel' provides scores of Instagram hits about her hostility toward the Jewish state. The multi-Grammy Award-nominated R&B artist herself posted a music video last spring that starts with 'Long live the Intifada' — an inflammatory phrase that critics say promotes violence against Israelis and Jews. She also shared a map online that eliminates the state of Israel and refused to condemn Hamas for the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. 'What's most frustrating is the hypocrisy at play. If she had a track record of attacking any other marginalized group, there's no doubt Cornell would have moved quickly to find a replacement,' Silberstein pointed out. 'But when it comes to antisemitism, the bar is somehow lower. All we're asking for is to be afforded the same level of care and protection as every other student on this campus.' 4 The watchdog group StopAntisemitism exposed Kehlani's anti-Israel and antisemitic views in a July 12, 2024 post. Kehiani/Youtube Silberstein said Slope Day is a festival that is supposed to unite the student body. 'Instead,' she said, 'this decision has fractured it — leaving many Jewish students like myself feeling abandoned by the very school that claims to prioritize inclusion and safety for all.' If Cornell doesn't cancel Kehlani's performance, Silberstein said the pro-Israel group will find a 'non-political, unifying' voice to be featured at a counter-event somewhere on campus. Faculty members were also disgusted by the divisive controversy. 'Selection of a performer who openly supports an Intifada and war against Israel reflects a toxic campus culture that the administration has ignored,' said Cornell law professor William Jacobson, founder of the civil rights group StopAntisemitism, a Jewish advocacy group, urged Cornell brass to do the right thing by not promoting or condoning a hate-mongering entertainer. 'President Kotlikoff's excuse that it's `too late to cancel' is a cowardly abdication of leadership. There is never a deadline on doing what is right,' said StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez. 4 Slope Day is a festival that is supposed to unite the student body, Silberstein said. Getty Images 'If the performer held views targeting any other minority group, the university would act swiftly. Jewish students deserve the same protection and respect.' Kolitkoff said the administration inserted a clause in Kehlani's contract prohibiting her from discussing her her political views during the performance. He also said Kehlani didn't voice her opinions during performances on her recent 'Crash World Tour,' which included a finale at Northeastern University. 'That was a sold-out concert that had no political events,' Kotlikoff said, according to the Cornell Sun. 'And by all accounts, a very successful performance.' Cornell has been roiled by numerous anti-Israel protests over the past year and Jewish students' lives have been threatened. Student Patrick Da pleaded guilty last year to threatening to kill Jews in posts on the university's website.
