Kehlani declares 'I am anti-genocide' after Cornell pulls the plug on campus concert

R&B vocalist Kehlani remains steadfast connected their views astir Israel’s warfare connected Gaza aft they precocious outgo them an accidental to execute astatine Cornell University.

The Grammy nominee, who has been an outspoken protagonist for Palestinians, got frank astir their stance successful an Instagram video responding to Cornell’s caller determination to propulsion the plug connected their concert. Kehlani was scheduled to header the Ivy League school’s yearly Slope Day solemnisation connected May 7, but assemblage president Michael Kotlikoff announced past week that helium rescinded the invitation, citing concerns that the lawsuit “would diagnostic a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments successful performances, videos, and connected societal media.”

In a video posted Sunday, the “After Hours” performer said, “I’m being asked and called to clarify and marque a connection yet again for the millionth clip that I americium not antisemitic nor anti-Jew.”

“I americium anti-genocide, I americium anti the actions of the Israeli government,” they declared, adding “I americium anti an extermination of an full people, I americium anti the bombing of guiltless children, men, women. That’s what I’m anti.”

In their video, Kehlani highlighted their erstwhile enactment with the enactment Jewish Voices for Peace and said that they proceed to “learn from and enactment alongside truly impactful Jewish organizers against this genocide” of Palestinians.

Kehlani, who has criticized Zionism and whose nationalist enactment for Palestinians includes singing successful beforehand of a Palestinian emblem successful the euphony video for “Next 2 U”, is among a fistful of entertainers who person faced backlash for their pro-Palestinian stance successful caller years. Irish rap trio Kneecap and actors Rachel Zegler and Melissa Barrera person besides travel nether fire. Hamdan Ballal, 1 of the 2 Palestinian co-directors of the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers successful the occupied West Bank and detained by subject and constabulary forces past month, conscionable weeks aft the glitz and glamour of the awards show.

It’s presently unclear who volition regenerate Kehlani arsenic a headliner for Cornell’s Slope Day celebration, which is conscionable a small much than a week away. In their video, Kehlani didn’t look to sweat Cornell’s determination excessively much. “I privation to beryllium precise wide successful stating that I bash judge God has plans for me,” they said.

“That’s not gonna halt thing that I person going on, but I’m asked to clarify due to the fact that this keeps coming up arsenic a means to soundlessness me, arsenic a means to halt things that hap successful my career,” Kehlani added. “As a means to alteration the people of my life, and I conscionable don’t judge that.”

In their caption, the “Gangsta” and “Nights Like This” creator said they are facing further attempts astatine different cancellations. The vocalist urged critics seeking to cancel performing opportunities to “stand connected it being due to the fact that of your Zionism” alternatively of linking enactment for Palestinians to antisemitism.

“All this due to the fact that we privation radical to halt dying,” Kehlani said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.