Kehlani has denied being antisemitic after Cornell University officials cancelled her concert due to her support for Palestine.
The R&B singer, who uses she/they pronouns, was scheduled to perform at the university’s Slope Day celebration on 7 May, but the event was called off last week.
Cornell’s president cited concerns from the community about Kehlani’s alleged antisemitic and anti-Israel views expressed on social media and in music videos.
In a TikTok video with her Jewish-Palestinian friend and Jewish studio engineer, Kehlani emphasized that she is not antisemitic.
“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,” the star declared. “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.”
Kehlani claimed the accusations kept “coming up as a means to silence me” and pointed out that they have been working with the organisation Jewish Voices for Peace since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023.
In the caption, she added, “ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR. from day one it’s been clear. 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… Don’t make it anti-Jew. This is a played out game. All this because we want people to stop dying (sic).”
They have been a vocal supporter for Palestine amid the ongoing war, and even performed in front of the Palestinian flag in the music video for their 2024 song Next 2 U.
