Cornell cancels Kehlani’s performance on his position on the war in Gaza

Cornell University has abandoned a popular R&B singer from his annual concert on the campus on what the president of the school said he was anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli feelings that she had adopted.

The singer, Kehlani, was a frank opponent of the War of Israel in Gaza, speaking on concerts and on social networks. In a 2024 clip for the song “Next 2 U”, Kehlani danced in a jacket decorated with Kaffiyehs while the dancers agitate Palestinian flags in the background. During the introduction of the video, the expression “Live the Intifada” appeared on a dark background.

Furor on the singer’s selection spread on the Cornell campus and beyond after the school announced the programming of the concert, an annual celebration called slope day which follows the last day of the lessons. Ivy League University is one of the dozens investigating by the White House for anti -Semitism allegations, part of the targeting of universities by the Trump administration. Earlier this month, the White House froze $ 1 billion in funding for Cornell.

Cornell president Michael I. Kotlikoff wrote in an email on Wednesday that “although it is not intention, the selection of Kehlani as a headliner of this year injected the division and discord” into the event.

“In the days that followed Kehlani’s announcement, I heard serious concerns of our community that many are angry, injured and confused that the day of the slope would showcase an artist who married anti-Semitic and anti-Israelis feelings in performance, videos and on social networks,” he wrote.

The demonstrations concerning the war in Gaza have exposed a broad disagreement on the moment when the criticism of Israel turns into anti -Semitic behavior. For some, the word “intifada”, which results in a rebellion or uprising, implies an appeal to violence against Israelis and Jews. But some pro-Palestinian demonstrators who use the term in the songs consider it as a cry for liberation and the lack of oppression.