Rutgers Cancels Biotech CEO as Graduation Speaker Over Anti-Israel Social Media Posts

Rutgers University canceled a planned graduation speaker following backlash over his criticism of Israel.

Arcellx CEO Rami Elghandour, a university alumnus, posted on social media that Israel committed war crimes and shared other anti-Israel messages. He also executive-produced a documentary about a young Palestinian girl killed by the Israel Defense Forces.

The school had invited him to deliver the convocation address on May 15 at the School of Engineering. It rescinded the invitation after learning of the posts, according to The Associated Press.

A Rutgers spokesperson told AP that some graduating students said they would skip the ceremony over concerns about the speaker's social media activity. The spokesperson did not specify which posts led to the decision.

Neither Rutgers contacts nor Elghandour responded immediately to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

In a statement to The Guardian, the spokesperson said the move keeps the focus on engineering students and preserves the event's celebratory spirit. It ensures no graduate must choose between personal convictions and attending convocation.

Elghandour told The Guardian he found it puzzling that Rutgers would cancel him for humanitarian views it otherwise champions.

The incident reflects rising controversy over anti-Israel views on college campuses. At the University of Michigan, a professor praised Gaza protesters in a recent graduation speech. University President Santa Ono later apologized, calling the remarks hurtful and insensitive to many in the community. He said the university regretted the pain caused on a day of celebration and accomplishment, per a Times of Israel report.