Pride Sponsors Bail on Kehlani Over Antisemitism Clash
Brace yourself for another spectacular festival fumble: San Diego Pride’s shining moment has turned into a sponsor desertion thanks to R&B star Kehlani’s vocal support of Palestine and alleged “antisemitic rhetoric.” UC San Diego, UC San Diego Health and Mayor Todd Gloria all dropped out of sponsoring this year’s Pride parade and festival, CBS8 and TMZ report, pointing to Kehlani’s past comments as the dealbreaker.
The university and its health system released statements condemning antisemitism “and affirming our commitment to inclusivity for all individuals, including our Jewish students, faculty, staff and patients,” UC San Diego stated. Mayor Gloria echoed the move, quietly but firmly stepping away from festivities that feature an artist under fire for amplifying violent rhetoric against Israel.
Jewish community organizations didn’t wait for an open mic—they also announced they’d boycott Pride in solidarity with UC San Diego’s stance. Their official letters faulted Kehlani’s “repeated amplification of violent antisemitic rhetoric,” effectively pulling the red carpet out from under her headlining slot.
This isn’t Kehlani’s first rodeo in the controversy corral. Earlier this spring, Cornell University axed her “Slope Day” performance over what it deemed her anti-Israel position. In May, a Central Park show vanished off the calendar amid reported safety concerns, with New York City Mayor Eric Adams cryptically noting, “We’re not the first to have looked at this performer and talked about the cancellation.”
Rather than slink away, Kehlani U-turned into full defiance at the 2025 American Music Awards, declaring, “If people are blowing up and being murdered at mass rates … it should be as easy as breathing to say, ‘Hey, this shouldn’t be happening.’” That rallying cry only added fuel to the sponsor exodus.
When TMZ pinged her for a reaction, Kehlani kept it short, sweet and utterly unphased via Instagram Stories: drama doesn’t faze her. Meanwhile, San Diego Pride issued a moderate mea culpa, expressing disappointment yet “respect[ing] the decision of sponsors who have chosen not to participate in this year’s programming.”
TMZ also reached out to Mayor Gloria for further comment but is still waiting on a reply. Between the canceled campus shows, municipal bailouts and national headlines, you’ve got to wonder: is Pride turning into a minefield for anyone who dares to speak on Gaza?
So there you have it—another Pride saga added to the archives of festival flip-flops. Nothing shocking here, folks. Let’s all act surprised. So what’s next—will Kehlani’s remaining dates hold up, or is the whole tour one giant pause button? Stay tuned. And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, CBS8
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
