The same Toronto venue that wouldn’t allow people to wear FREE OUR HOSTAGES hoodies on its premises, is now welcoming an artist calling to globalize the intifada.
That artist is Kehlani. Who? That was my first response too. But artist/intifadist, tomato/tomahto, right?
Kehlani is set to take centre stage on September 11, 2024. If Osama Bin Laden were still alive, he’d be first in line to buy a ticket.
Yes, her aptly named “Crash World Tour” will hit Scotiabank Arena on the anniversary of the deadliest terror attack in world history.
The arena is owned and operated by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). Back in February, fans at a Toronto Raptors game were forced to leave, after one of them refused to remove a hoodie emblazoned with “FREE OUR HOSTAGES.”
At the time, MLSE explained it prohibits political messages and pointed to its Fan Code of Conduct, which states that fans have a right to expect an environment where they can enjoy the event experience free from, among other things, political or inciting messages.
Hamas’ October 7 massacre in Israel was an intifada. Kehlani is calling for that on a global level. Do you see any political or inciting messages in that?
And does anyone at MLSE vet performers? Because a basic Google search of “Kehlani” reads like a rap sheet that would earn a thank-you from Hamas. (Justin Trudeau earned his Hamas thank-you back in December.)
To be fair, I’m not so sure how much that terror group would appreciate Kehlani.
She’s openly bisexual, uses she/they pronouns, bares her midriff and cleavage, dances sexually in public, and is a woman with opinions, who enjoys expressing them in a democracy. All haram to Hamas. Meanwhile, she supports a terrorist organization that would never support her freedom of expression — or being.
Now, in a 10-second Google search, you’ll discover her latest music video, “Next 2 U.’’ It begins with the caption, “LONG LIVE THE INTIFADA.”
Again, the October 7 massacre was an intifada, in which about 1200 innocents were slaughtered — including eight Canadians. She is calling for an encore of that deadly day.
So in the video, Kehlani and her dancers wear keffiyeh-adorned jackets, whilst waving Palestinian flags, with a Palestinian flag backdrop. It ends with a message that links to a list of names of the “thousands of deceased children” killed in Gaza.
That list is provided by Al Jazeera — the mouthpiece for Hamas.
As of June, the intifadist says she has raised $555,000 in aid for Gaza, Sudan, and Congo. Think about the billionaire leaders of Hamas. Think about the billions of dollars in their tunnel infrastructure. Where do you think that money ultimately goes?
Search Google for another couple of minutes and you’ll discover Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is a fan of Kehlani. Even though that says everything you need to know, here’s more …
On October 8, Kehlani shared a graphic on her Instagram which stated, Hamas’s attack and the events unfolding since yesterday are unspeakable. We could talk about their cruel and criminal actions or focus on how our ‘Jewish supremacist’ government brought us to this point.”
Since then she has been consistently outspoken in her support of Palestinians. She frequently calls for a ceasefire. But has not once called for the Israeli hostages — still held captive — to be released.
The human rights activist has never condemned the October 7 terror attack. She has not once expressed any concern for the Israeli women, girls, and men brutally sexually violated by the very terrorists who filmed themselves committing these war crimes. And she’s never called for the return of hostages.
But she has openly mocked them on social media.
The American has never set foot in Gaza, yet takes such an undying stand for Hamas. Ironic, considering her life would be at stake in Gaza under a terror group that doesn’t grant Palestinians the very rights and freedoms she claims to espouse.
She tells Billboard Magazine, “We’re blessed to play a small part in a growing tide towards the truth about Palestine.”
But what’s Palestine?
It’s not a country. It never was. If you don’t know what you’re talking about, you should educate yourself, before attempting to indoctrinate impressionable fans who idolize you. (She has 16 million followers on Instagram.)
Kehlani embraces her status as a Jew-hater as a badge of honour.
So I ask, why would MLSE book a Jew-hater in their venue — a Jew-hater who incites violence against Jews to millions and millions of fans?
It’s interesting to note that several performances by Jewish artist Matisyahu have been cancelled by Hamas supporters — to silence Matisyahu’s support for Israel and messages of global peace.
In cancelling Matisyahu, venues cited “security concerns.”
Kehlani calls for intifada — the very atrocity that occurred on October 7. That is a security concern. So why is she still allowed to perform?
And how is it she was booked to perform at Scotiabank arena, on the anniversary of 9/11?
We must hold institutions accountable for their actions. We must fight for a society that has no space for Jew-hatred or any form of bigotry. We must not allow MLSE to give a platform to hate — and profit from it.
The organization says it believes in inclusivity. So why allow a concert that is openly divisive and hateful? By giving Kehlani a platform, MLSE is not just emboldening and supporting her message, it is also enabling the spread of anti-Jew hate, dangerous ideologies, and the glorification of terrorism.
MLSE must cancel her concert.
I have called MLSE. No response. I shared a post to X and tagged them.
Amongst the 32,000 people who viewed it, MLSE must’ve missed it — along with the hundreds of shares and comments on the post tagging them too. Several people who want Kehlani’s concert cancelled told me they emailed the organization. Crickets.
Why is an organization that is so vocal about inclusivity also so silent and insular?
This isn’t a matter of freedom of expression. This is a matter of public safety and freedom from violence. The incitement of terror has no place in what should be a family-friendly venue that values inclusivity in a nation that values democracy.
We cannot let this happen. Never again.
Dahlia Kurtz is a writer, speaker, and radio talk show host in Canada. Her latest book, Dear Zionist, You are not alone: 18 Letters of Hope and Light, is available at DahliaKurtz.com and on Amazon.
