The Slope Day Programming Board announced Gunna as the headliner for Slope Day on Friday morning, nine days after President Michael Kotlikoff rescinded Kehlani’s invitation on April 23.
Slope Day, the annual concert held on Libe Slope at the end of the academic year, is financed by the Student Activity Funding Commission — a body responsible for allocating a portion of the undergraduate student activity fee, which all students pay to the University.
Gunna, the four-time Grammy nominated hip hop artist with songs like “Lemonade,” “f*kumean” and “Drip Too Hard,” will be headlining the performance.
Previously collaborating with artists like Doja Cat, Travis Scott and Drake, Gunna has topped the Billboard 200 charts twice with his albums “DS4EVER” and “Wunna.”
Gunna, whose government name is Sergio Kitchens, was arrested in 2022 for racketeering on accusations that he was collaborating with the Young Slime criminal gang. He pleaded guilty to the charges in December 2022.
The Student Assembly previously invited Gunna to attend Slope Day as an emcee in 2022 to accompany headlining artist Aminé.
The supporting performer will be Louis The Child, known for their songs “It’s Strange,” “Slow Down Love” and “Better Not.” Other performers include student band Lucky Strike and student DJs Two (Asian) Friends and FREQ.
The replacement follows student and parent dissatisfaction over Kehlani’s anti-Israel sentiments on her social media. In an email statement to the Cornell community, President Michael Kotlikoff wrote, “I have heard grave concerns from our community that many are angry, hurt, and confused that Slope Day would feature a performer who has espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos, and on social media.”
In a video posted to X expressing her discontent with other music industry members for not speaking out in favor of Palestine, Kehlani said, “It’s f*ck Israel, it’s f*ck Zionism and it’s also f*ck a lot of y’all too.”
Kehlani’s beliefs also appear in her performances. Her “Next 2 U” music video — which was released in June 2024 — begins with the message “Long Live the Intifada,” in addition to featuring dancers in keffiyehs waving Palestinian flags. The word intifada is often associated with two Palestinian uprisings.
A week after Kehlani’s announcement as headliner, at an April 17 Student Assembly meeting, Kotlikoff criticized the choice of the outspokenly anti-Israel performer but stated that “it’s too late to secure another performer.”
Following Kotlikoff’s statements, pro-Israel group Cornellians for Israel launched a petition and GoFundMe to replace Kehlani’s headliner position. In an Instagram post promoting the petition, CFI called Kehlani “antisemitic” and wrote that her opposition to Zionism “is a call to eradicate a core aspect of Jewish … identity.”
Soon after CFI’s campaign began, Kotlikoff held a meeting on April 22, which was promoted to several pro-Israel and historically Jewish Greek Life organizations. At the meeting, administrators discussed potential options for Slope Day moving forward and student dissatisfaction with Kehlani.
“I am not antisemitic, nor anti-Jew,” Kehlani said in a video posted to her Instagram on Saturday in response to Cornell cancelling her invitation. “I am anti-genocide. I am anti the actions of the Israeli government, I am anti the extermination of an entire people, I am anti the bombing of innocent children, men, women — that’s what I’m anti.”
Slope Day wristband distribution is slotted for May 4, 5 and 6 at Willard Straight Hall Browsing Library and Robert Purcell Community Center.
Gabriel Muñoz is a member of the class of 2026 at the College of Arts and Sciences. He serves as city editor for the 143rd editorial board. He previously served as city editor for the 142nd Editorial Board and news editor for the 141st Editorial Board. He can be contacted at gmunoz@cornellsun.com.
