USC cancels John M Chu keynote speech in wake of valedictorian controversy

University says it is ‘redesigning’ commencement plans days after it decided to prevent Asna Tabassum from speaking on 10 May

The University of Southern California is “redesigning” its entire commencement plans – just days after making the controversial decision to cancel the valedictorian speech of a Muslim student – and will also cancel the keynote speech by film-maker Jon M Chu.

The Los Angeles university’s provost, Andrew Guzman, said on Monday that it took the unprecedented step of canceling valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s speech at the 10 May ceremony because because the “alarming tenor” of reactions to her selection as valedictorian – along with “the intensity of feelings” surrounding Israel’s military strikes in Gaza – had created “substantial risks relating to security”. They did not cite any specific threats.