Latest news with #Next2U
Los Angeles Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Kehlani loses Cornell concert: University president cites singer's ‘anti-Israel' sentiments
Cornell University has canceled a performance by R&B star Kehlani after complaints to the Ivy League school's president that she expressed antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments. Kehlani was scheduled to perform next month as the headliner at Slope Day, an annual celebration at the upstate New York school. But President Michael Kotlikoff said Wednesday he was rescinding the invitation because it has 'injected division and discord' into the May 7 event. '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,' Kotlikoff wrote in an open letter. 'While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.' Emails seeking comment were sent to Kehlani's representatives. Kehlani publicly supported Palestinians. She sings in front of a Palestinian flag in the 'Next 2 U' music video, which features the phrase 'long live the intifada' at its start. Intifada, an Arabic word for 'uprising' or 'resistance,' is seen by some as a call for violence against Jews. Cornell is among the many U.S. universities trying to navigate increased campus tensions since the war in Gaza, dealing with both pro-Palestinian demonstrations and accusations that antisemitism has been allowed to go unchecked. This month, the Trump administration froze more than $1 billion in federal funding for Cornell while the government investigates alleged civil rights violations. Kotlikoff said he conferred with event organizers and other students before dropping Kehlani. 'I understand that my decision will be celebrated by some and criticized by others,' Kotlikoff wrote. 'I believe it is the right thing to do and the decision I must make to ensure community and safety at this high-profile event that reaches the entire campus.' Hill writes for the Associated Press.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oakland native Kehlani axed from Cornell concert for support of Gaza
(KRON) – R&B singer and Oakland native Kehlani was recently cut from Cornell University's Slope Day Concert due to their stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In a letter to students and faculty, the university's president, Michael I. Kotlikoff, said he heard 'grave concerns' regarding the singer's 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media.' Kehlani has been unwaveringly vocal in their support for Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. In their 'Next 2 U' music video, Kehlani wore a Palestinian keffiyeh while performing in front of the Palestinian flag. Kehlani has also spoken in support of Gaza citizens in performances and interviews. UN food agency says its food stocks in Gaza have run out under Israel's blockade Kotlikoff explained his belief that rescinding Kehlani's invitation to the May 7 concert was the best course of action. 'I understand that my decision will be celebrated by some and criticized by others. I believe it is the right thing to do and the decision I must make to ensure community and safety at this high-profile event that reaches the entire campus,' Kotlikoff continued. 'Cornell is an institution where 'any person can find instruction in any study,' and where every person should feel included at the signature social event of the year.' Last month, NPR reported that more than 50,000 Palestinian people have been killed since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack against Israel. In the attack, Hamas killed nearly 1,200 people and captured 251, according to NPR. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ivy League university cancels Oakland singer's concert due to ‘antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments'
Cornell University has canceled Kehlani 's upcoming campus performance due to her stance on the war in Gaza. The Oakland R&B singer was scheduled to perform at the Ivy League's end-of-school-year Slope Day celebration on May 7. But Michael Kotlikoff, the school's president, posted a letter online 'rescinding Kehlani's invitation' due to her political opinions. '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,' the letter, shared on Wednesday, April 23, reads. 'While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.' Kehlani, an Oakland School for the Arts alum, has long spoken in opposition of Israel's war in Gaza. In the music video for her 2024 song 'Next 2 U,' she danced in front of Palestinian flags wearing a jacket emblazoned with keffiyehs, a traditional Arabic scarf often associated with Palestinian identity. The singer has also used her social media on multiple occasions to express outrage at the violence occurring on the Gaza Strip and frustration with other celebrities that are staying silent on the topic. She noted that she has 'experienced a lot of pushback' and 'loss' due to such statements during an interview on 'The Breakfast Club' podcast last year, but has continued to publicly share her opinions. In his letter, Kotlikoff went on to explain that after speaking with students and the Slope Day Programming Board, he came to the conclusion that selecting Kehlani as a performer 'compromised what is meant to be an inclusive event.' 'Although it was not the intention, the selection of Kehlani as this year's headliner has injected division and discord into Slope Day,' he wrote. Indeed, booking Kehlani was controversial among students from the moment it was announced. It particularly sparked outrage among the school's Jewish community, which makes up 20.1% of the undergraduate population and 4.9% of the graduate population, according to Cornell Hillel, a campus hub for Jewish students. One group, Cornellians for Israel, started a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $28,000 as of Thursday, April 24, to help pay for a new performer. Kotlikoff's decision to nix Kehlani from the event lineup comes shortly after he told students that it was 'too late' to find a replacement performer, according to the student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun. He said in the letter that students can 'expect a new lineup for a great 2025 Slope Day to be announced shortly.'
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ivy league school cancels end-of-year concert headliner Kehlani for her antisemitic song lyrics
Cornell University has dropped R&B star Kehlani as its end-of-year concert headliner over their antisemitic song lyrics. The 'After Hours' singer, who uses she/they pronouns, was scheduled to perform at the Ivy League school's 'Slope Day' on May 7, but on Wednesday President Michael Kotlikoff said he was rescinding the invite because it has 'injected division and discord' into the event. Kehlani, who was announced as the headliner on April 10, publicly supported Palestinians in the music video for her song 'Next 2 U', which features the phrase 'long live the intifada' at the beginning of the clip. The Arabic word Intifada stands for the 'resistance' or 'uprising' against Israel, calling for violence against Jews. The songstress, 30, was also seen in the clip, dressed in keffiyehs alongside her dancers, and standing in front of the Palestinian flag. After hearing 'grave concerns' about her presence on campus, Kotlikoff officially booted her from the event. '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,' he said in a letter. 'While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.' Before making the final decision, Kotlikoff said on Thursday it was 'too late to secure another performer that will be acceptable or appropriate for Slope Day,' The Cornell Daily Sun reported. By Tuesday, Kotlikoff had met with about 70 students to discuss the performance during a town-hall meeting that was geared toward members of Jewish Greek life organizations and pro-Israel campus group, per the outlet. Kehlani not only used her video to share her beliefs, but has also taken to her Instagram and called Zionists the 'scum of the earth,' and that they should 'go to hell,' according to Cornellians for Israel. Going forward, Kotlikoff said that he and members of the Slope Day Programming Board have agreed to create 'what is meant to be an inclusive event.' 'Going forward, we will work together to revise the process for researching and selecting performers for this important annual event,' he wrote. contacted Kehlani's team for comment. The decision comes after President Donald Trump's administration froze over $1 billion in federal funding to Cornell. Cornell's funding was frozen amid a civil-rights probe over whether the institution failed to prevent antisemitic discrimination and harassment on its campus. The president cracked down on Ivy League schools earlier this month, including Northwestern University. His administration froze $790 million for the Illinois school. Meanwhile, Harvard University has sued the Trump administration in an effort to reverse the federal freeze on more than $2.2billion in grants. In its lawsuit, Harvard said the funding freeze was 'arbitrary and capricious' and violated its First Amendment rights. 'The Government has not — and cannot — identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen,' the lawsuit, filed in Boston federal court, stated. The research which is now at risk 'aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America's position as a global leader in innovation.' In a letter to Harvard earlier this month, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university as well as changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus, and stop recognizing certain student clubs. Harvard President Alan Garber said the university would not bend to the demands. Hours later, the government froze the billions of dollars of federal funding.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kehlani Performance at Cornell University Canceled Over Singer's Pro-Palestine Comments
A scheduled performance from Kehlani at Cornell University in New York State has been canceled, with the university's president issuing a statement on behalf of a divided student body. The school confirmed their decision to remove Kehlani was due to her making what were felt to be 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.' Kehlani was due to perform at Slope Day, an annual Cornell tradition that celebrates the close of the academic year. President Michael I Kotlikoff wrote: 'Unfortunately, although it was not the intention, the selection of Kehlani as this year's headliner has injected division and discord into Slope Day. For that reason, I am rescinding Kehlani's invitation and expect a new lineup for a great 2025 Slope Day to be announced shortly.' More from Variety Kehlani Signs With Wasserman Music for Worldwide Representation (EXCLUSIVE) Kehlani Partners With HeadCount to Encourage Fans to Vote in Upcoming Midterm Elections 'The L Word: Generation Q' Casts Kehlani, Margaret Cho, Joey Lauren Adams, Joanna Cassidy as Season 3 Guest Stars Kotlikoff notes his decision will be 'celebrated by some and criticized by others,' adding, 'I believe it is the right thing to do and the decision I must make to ensure community and safety at this high-profile event that reaches the entire campus.' The decision to remove Kehlani from the lineup was made after Cornell received complaints about Kehlani's 'anti-Israel sentiments' in performances and on social media. Kehlani, an R&B singer, has publicly supported Palestine in her art. She waves Palestinian flags in the music video to her 2024 song 'Next 2 U.' The video also features dancers wearing keffiyehs, and included the phrase, 'Long Live the Intifada,' which has a variety of meanings, but is generally used to refer to rebellion against oppression. On YouTube, the video includes a link to an Al Jazeera article listing names of some 16,800 children it reports Israel has killed since October 2023. Representatives for Kehlani did not immediately return Variety's request for comment. 'While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it,' Kotlikoff continues in his statement, which notes he 'spent the last few days talking privately with many students about Slope Day.' The statement closes with Kotlikoff committing to revising the process for 'researching and selecting performers for this important annual event.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
