Anti-Israel singer Kehlani has doubled down on her controversial comments on the Israel-Palestine conflict just weeks after New York City pulled the plug on her Central Park concert.
The 5-time Grammy nominee, who walked the red carpet at the 2025 American Music Awards Monday night, didn’t mince words when asked about her stance on the ongoing clash.
“It shouldn’t be a hard thing, it shouldn’t be something I’m even looked at so massively for, it shouldn’t be something I’m credited for,” the “After Hours” singer, 30, told Variety ahead of the awards show.
“It should be second nature if people are blowing up and being murdered at mass rates, it should be no — it should be as easy as breathing to say, ‘Hey I don’t really think this should be happening, this shouldn’t be happening, maybe we should stop.’”
“We’re funding it so we should stop,” the singer, born Kehlani Ashley Parrish, said in Las Vegas, referring to the US’ support for Israel.
When asked if celebrities should be vocal about their stance on the issue, the “Can I?” singer said, “Yeah, I said it a bunch.”
Kehlani shares her stance on Gaza and Palestine: “All I can say is, free Palestine.” pic.twitter.com/CjBzXzFSNn
— Variety (@Variety) May 26, 2025
“I definitely think we have more power than we think and everything’s stronger in numbers, and I think that that’s something that hopefully people will understand at some point,” she went on.
“But all I can say is free Palestine.”
Earlier this month, The Post revealed that NYC officials scrapped Kehlani’s upcoming Central Park performance after mounting pressure from City Hall.
“We strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expression of all kinds,” the City Park’s Foundation, a taxpayer-funded organization, said in a statement on Instagram.
“However, the safety and security of our guests and artists is of the utmost importance and in light of these concerns, the concert has been cancelled.”
The news appeared to get to the singer last, as she revealed on her Instagram Story that she found out of the show’s cancellation through social media.
“Lol,” she began. “I just found that one out on Instagram by the way.”
“I’m so deeply grounded in my purpose, my mission, my art, my contribution. Back to this album,” she added.
Weeks prior, Cornell University also pulled the plug on Kehlani’s campus performance after facing overwhelming backlash over the decision to host her.
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