Kehlani at Grammys, talks about creating ‘After Hours’
Kehlani talks ‘After Hours’ ahead of 2025 Grammy nomination.
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Kehlani is speaking out after her performance at Cornell University was canceled over what the school described as “hateful views.”
The R&B star, 30, in an Instagram video on April 26 said “I am not antisemitic” in response to Cornell scrapping plans for her to headline its “Slope Day” year-end celebration.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said he rescinded Kehlani’s invitation after hearing “grave concerns” that a performer “who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media” would be featured.
In Kehlani’s video, the “After Hours” singer maintained “for the millionth time” that they are not “anti-Jew” but is instead “anti-genocide” and “anti the actions of the Israeli government.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Cornell for comment.
“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,” Kehlani said.
Kehlani has been a vocal supporter of Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas war. The Grammy nominee appeared before a Palestinian flag in the 2024 video for their song “Next 2 U” and has expressed opposition to Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip and ongoing military campaign there.
The artist also once described Zionists, a term which can take on different meanings but which many view as supporters of a Jewish state, as “scum.”
In the caption of the video, Kehlani said that in addition to the Cornell cancellation, “now there are attempts at other cancellations,” without providing details.
“This is a played out game,” the singer wrote. “all this because we want people to stop dying.”
Kehlani said she was filming the video while working on a new album and while in the presence “of my Jewish and Palestinian best friend and my Jewish engineer,” both of whom briefly appeared on camera in the background. But in the caption, she described this “friend flex” as “SATIRE & SARCASmmmmm.”
Kehlani’s video received more than 200,000 likes on Instagram, including from Melissa Barrera, the actress who was fired from “Scream 7” over comments she made in support of Palestine that production company Spyglass alleged constituted “hate speech.”
Contributing: Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
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