Outside speakers axed from University of Southern California ceremony over valedictorian flap

The University of Southern California has canceled appearances from outside speakers and honorees at next month's graduation ceremony following a wave of criticism over the school's decision to stop the valedictorian from giving a graduation speech.

The Los Angeles school announced on Monday that Asna Tabassum would not deliver her speech after the discussion about her selection took on "an alarming tenor" on social media.

"Given the highly publicized circumstances surrounding our main-stage commencement program, university leadership has decided it is best to release our outside speakers and honorees from attending this year’s ceremony," USC said in a Friday update. "It is important that our full attention be on our remarkable graduates."

The university said it will delay giving out honorary degrees at ceremonies, including commencement speaker Jon Chu, director of "Crazy Rich Asians." Honorary degrees were also set to go to tennis legend Billie Jean King, National Endowment for the Arts chair Maria Rosario Jackson and National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt.

The school did not name which commencement speakers are still scheduled to speak. Previously scheduled outside speakers include "Never Have I Ever" star Jaren Lewison for the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and Korean filmmaker Miky Lee for the School of Cinematic Arts.

The university did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

Provost cited security risks after social media outrage

USC's decision marks the first time the school has ever prevented its valedictorian from speaking at graduation.

Provost Andrew Guzman said officials were concerned by the social media outrage following the naming of Tabassum as USC's valedictorian. Critics complained about Tabassum's social media, which includes an Instagram bio that links to a pro-Palestine website, arguing that she spouted "anti-semitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric."

"The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement," Guzman said in a statement Monday. "This decision is not only necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal obligation."

He said officials could not ignore that similar risks have previously led to harassment and violence at other campuses. He added that the school's Department of Public Safety and campus safety team are evaluating potential threats for the ceremony, which typically draws around 65,000 people.

Tabassum says USC abandoned her

Tabassum, a South Asian-American and Muslim who studies biomedical engineering and resistance to genocide, issued a statement after USC's decision.

"I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred. I am surprised that my own university—my home for four years—has abandoned me," Tabassum said in the statement, issued through the Council on American-Islamic Relations Los Angeles branch.

She said anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices led a "campaign of racist hatred" toward her and "an uncompromising belief in human rights for all."

Campus protest stands by Asna Tabassum

Students, faculty and pro-Palestinian activists rallied at the University of Southern California campus Thursday to protest the cancelation of Tabassum's speech.

Many held signs that read "Let Asna Speak" while chanting, "Let her speak!" Supporters voiced that Tabassum is their rightful valedictorian and that the school is silencing her.

"One of the most gifted girls I have ever met," student Kaiser Kuresi told CBS News. "This university is trying to silence her."

"This campus has been hostile to Muslim voices, Palestinian voices, people who are calling out the genocide happening," USC senior Maideh Orangi told the Los Angeles Times. "This is just another example of that."

The 2024 commencement ceremony remains scheduled for Friday, May 10.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USC cancels commencement speakers after valedictorian speech outrage