Vic Mensa hit up Instagram on Wednesday to show love to Kehlani for vocally backing Palestine after she had two shows scrapped because of her position on the Gaza conflict.
“Few artists, and even fewer at your level of success, have chosen to center humanity and courage as boldly and uncompromisingly as you have, let alone at the peak of their popularity,” Mensa wrote in a heartfelt open letter to Kehlani. “Although newer to religion, i have a deep seated belief that god, or the universe, or however you categorize the all-powerful presence of the divine, is taking note – of every selfless action, of every sacrifice, of every time we [jeopardize] our security to do what’s right. i toe the line with you.”
Vic confessed there were times he held his tongue because the 31-year-old worried about how speaking out might financially affect his family. He and his partner welcomed their baby boy Mansa Musa Mensa back in February.
“I’ve been awe inspired by the way you’ve stood up,” he shared. “Especially at a time when i fell back. and i asked myself, ‘although i need to feed my son, what kind of man do i want to inspire him to be?'”
Kehlani was set to hit the stage today at Cornell University’s annual Slope Day concert, but got axed because the school’s president Michael I. Kotlikoff claimed bringing her would have “injected division and discord.”
New York City mayor Eric Adams dropped the bomb on Tuesday that her SummerStage show has been canceled over security worries, pointing to her Pro-Palestine stance as the reason.
Kehlani fired back with a statement after Cornell University pulled her performance, making it crystal clear her views aren’t antisemitic.
“I’m not antisemitic or anti-Jew,” the singer declared. “I’m anti-genocide, anti-actions of the Israeli government, anti-extermination of entire people, anti-bombing of innocent children, men, and women. That’s what I’m anti.”
