Kehlani has offered scathing criticism of other public figures who have been “silent” about the ongoing war in Gaza, sparking fierce action by her peers.
The “Nights Like This” musician posted a video on Monday (May 27) in which she slammed people with “advanced platforms” who respond privately to her pro-Palestinian social media posts but say nothing publicly.
The 29-year-old said she had “lost all respect” for artists who regularly approached her with collaborations.
Though she didn't name any names, the speech appears to have had the desired effect, with A-listers including Ariana Grande and Katy Perry taking to their social media pages for the first time within hours of Kehlani's speech.
She criticized people who have achieved high levels of success and “won the fucking game,” saying, “You can't even stop for a second and realize that everything we do has no fucking purpose without the people and turn around and reach out to the people? You can't say anything? That's terrible!”
This came after Israel launched missile attacks and set fire to a camp in Rafah, a displaced area that had previously been designated a “safe zone,” killing more than 45 people and wounding hundreds, and came days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt all operations in the area.
Footage of the aftermath of the attack, including the “decapitated babies” and “people burned alive” that Kehlani pointed to, sparked widespread outcry and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to acknowledge the attack was a “tragic mistake.” The AI images of the Rafah camp went viral, having been shared more than 45 million times, a record.
Israel defended its actions and justified the operation by reporting that Hamas was operating in the area, firing rockets from between the tents.
“Hollywood can change so much. Artists can make such a big impact. So confusing, tragic, embarrassing, cringey and sad to watch it all unfold like this. Silence is such a loud noise,” Kehlani continued in her Instagram Story.
Hours after the post, Ariana Grande shared a humanitarian fundraiser for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which reportedly raised a further £40,000 for the charity in question, while Katy Perry shared a statement from UNICEF, as did David Beckham. Dua Lipa, who has previously been vocal on the issue, also shared a post condemning the attack at Rafah.
As the military operation enters its eighth month, pressure is growing on celebrities to speak out on the issue, especially after a viral TikTok trend, #CelebrityBlockout2024, encouraged stars, including Lizzo, to take a stance.
However, some have suggested that industry pressure may be holding her back in speaking out following the alleged firing of Melissa Barrera. Scream 7 Regarding pro-Palestinian posts.
on the other hand, Bridgerton Actress Nicola Coughlan continues to speak out in support of Palestinian rights, while Bella Hadid paid tribute to her roots by wearing a Keffiyeh dress to the Cannes Film Festival in support of the cause.
But Kehlani suggested that those whose opportunities are affected should take a second look at their integrity and values.
“The money you might lose by speaking out about genocide is not money you should value,” she continued. “Any company, brand, magazine, platform or label that says fuck you instead of you saying fuck genocide is not a place you want to be, and is not something you want to work with.”
“It's certainly an unacceptable fact, but genocide is even more unacceptable.”
The singer announced a new single, “Next 2 U,” which will be released on Friday (May 31). Merchandise will also be sold, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to families in Palestine, Congo and Sudan.
