University president says popular US singer was felt to have made ‘antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments’, after she made statements including ‘long live the intifada’
A performance by R&B star Kehlani at Cornell University in New York State has been cancelled, with the university’s president saying the booking of the singer had “injected division and discord” at Cornell, due to her making what were felt to be “antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments”.
Kehlani was due to perform at Slope Day, an annual Cornell celebration marking the end of the academic year. But president Michael I Kotlikoff wrote in a public statement: “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.”