Latest news with #anti-Jew
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Summerstage Cancels Upcoming Kehlani Concert Following Cornell's Decision
Nearly two weeks after Cornell University retracted their decision to have Kehlani headline an end-of-year concert, Summerstage has chosen to follow suit due to looming pressure from Mayor Eric Adams' office. 'We have been notified by the Mayor's Office that they have concerns for security and safety issues regarding the June 26 Kehlani concert, produced and presented by Live Nation,' the statement issued on Monday (May 5) via Instagram read. 'Those concerns are due to the controversy surrounding Cornell University's decision to cancel Kehlani's concert at the University, as well as security demands in Central Park and throughout the City for other Pride events during that same time period.' According to a letter sent to City Parks Foundation from the Adams administration and obtained by the New York Post, the cancellation stemmed from growing '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.' Summerstage responded, '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 […] While artists may choose to express their own opinions, their views may not necessarily be representative of the festival.' Following Cornell's decision to cancel, Kehlani denounced claims of being antisemitic. 'I'm not antisemitic or anti-Jew. I'm anti-genocide, anti-actions of the Israeli government, anti-extermination of entire people, anti-bombing of innocent children, men, women. That's what I'm anti,' said the 30-year-old. Her political stance became the center of controversy after having several pro-Palestinian elements in the music video for her single, 'Next 2 U.' More from Kehlani Responds To Accusations Of Antisemitism: "I'm Anti-Genocide" Cornell Cancels Upcoming Kehlani Performance Over Singer's Support Of Gaza Cornell University Faces Backlash For Booking Kehlani Due To Pro-Palestinian Views
Arab News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Kehlani responds to concert cancellation over ‘anti-Israel sentiments'
DUBAI: US singer Kehlani has taken to social media after her appearance at Cornell University's annual campus concert was cancelled due to her pro-Palestine stance. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Last week, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced he was withdrawing the R&B singer's invitation to perform at the event due to what he called 'antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments.' A post shared by Kehlani (@kehlani) 'Unfortunately, although it was not the intention, the selection of Kehlani as this year's headliner has injected division and discord into Slope Day,' Kotlikoff wrote last week, referring to the concert. 'For that reason, I am rescinding Kehlani's invitation and expect a new lineup for a great 2025 Slope Day to be announced shortly.' He continued: '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. While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it.' In a new Instagram video responding to the cancellation, Kehlani said: 'I am being asked and called to clarify and make a statement yet again for the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic nor anti-Jew. 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.' The 30-year-old, a frequent collaborator with the Jewish Voice for Peace group, added a caption, stating: 'I know you've seen Cornell University cancelled my show, and now there are attempts at other cancellations on top of the cancellations I've already experienced over the past year. If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your Zionism. don't make it anti-jew. this a played out game. all this because we want people to stop dying. I hope this helps.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kehlani speaks out on Cornell University cancellation: ‘I'm not antisemitic'
Grammy-nominated singer Kehlani is addressing her scheduled performance being pulled from Cornell University's annual Slope Day celebration. 'As I sit here and I'm working on my album, and I just so happen to be in the presence of my Jewish and Palestinian best friend and my Jewish engineer, I am being asked and called to clarify and make a statement yet again, for the millionth time, that I am not antisemitic, nor anti-Jew.' Kehlani explained in a video on Instagram. She then clarified that she is 'anti-genocide,' 'anti the actions of the Israeli government,' 'anti an extermination of an entire people,' 'anti the bombing of innocent children, men, women.' The 'After Hours' singer then explained that in the wake of the recent conflict, she did numerous live videos online with the organization Jewish Voices for Peace. She said she continues 'to learn from and work alongside really impactful Jewish organizers against this genocide.' The five-time Grammy nominee said she felt the need to define her stance because the request keeps coming up. 'I want to be very clear in stating that I do believe God has plans for me and that's not going to stop nothing that I have going on,' she continued. 'But I'm asked to clarify because this keeps coming up as a means to silence me, as a means to stop things that happen in my career, as a means to change the course of my life, and I just don't believe that. So here's the clarification that you needed. I hope this is everything you needed, straight from my mouth, not a written statement with a white background from my notes. This is straight from me.' Kehlani's message comes just days after Cornell President, Michael I. Kotlikoff, issued a letter to students claiming that her planned performance had 'injected division and discord' into the annual event. She was set to be the headliner for the May 7 yearly spring festival. 'For that reason, I am rescinding Kehlani's invitation and expect a new lineup for a great 2025 Slope Day to be announced shortly,' he explained. '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. 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 his decision, Kotlikoff said he spoke with students about the event and the student Slope Day Programming Board. '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,' he 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.' Moving forward, Kotlikoff said the process for researching and selecting performances for Slope Day will be revised. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
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.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kehlani Responds To Accusations Of Antisemitism: 'I'm Anti-Genocide'
Kehlani (she/they) was set to headline Cornell University's annual 'Slope Day,' but the invitation was rescinded after the university became 'aware' of the singer's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. This led to the following statement issied on Saturday (April 26) via social media addressing the escalating accusations of antisemitism. 'As I sit here working on my album […] I'm being asked to clarify and called to make a statement yet again for the millionth time. I'm not antisemitic or anti-Jew. I'm anti-genocide, anti-actions of the Israeli government, anti-extermination of entire people, anti-bombing of innocent children, men, women. That's what I'm anti,' said the 30-year-old before mentioning that they were confronting the recent cancellation with their Jewish-Palestinian best friend and Jewish engineer in the room. Kehlani added, 'The very first live I did at the beginning of this genocide was with a really beautiful Jewish organization called Jewish Voices for Peace and I still continue to learn from and work alongside really impactful Jewish organizers against this genocide.' The CRASH singer seemed unbothered by the performance being cancelled and is focused on their new music. 'I want to be very clear in stating that I do believe that God has plans for me, and that's not going to stop nothing I've going on. But I'm asked to clarify because this keeps coming up as a means to silence me, as a means to stop what's happening in my career, as a means to change the course of my life and I just don't believe that,' they explained. The video statement was captioned: 'ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR. From day one it's been clear.' Kehlani brought up a series of 'attempts at other cancellations on top of the cancellations' that's occurred over the past year, but was adamant about being mislabeled as 'anti-jew.' The singer described that rhetoric as a 'played out game.' Their stance on being anti-genocide was most notably seen in the 2024 music video for their song, 'Next 2 U.' Cornell's President Michael Kotlikoff used that as part of his reasoning behind the cancelled show. '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. While any artist has the right in our country to express hateful views, Slope Day is about uniting our community, not dividing it,' Kotlikoff's statement read. A new headliner has yet to be announced. More from Cornell Cancels Upcoming Kehlani Performance Over Singer's Support Of Gaza Cornell University Faces Backlash For Booking Kehlani Due To Pro-Palestinian Views Ye West Celebrates Adolf Hitler's Birthday By Spewing Antisemitic Remarks
