MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (AP) – A Pennsylvania school district has canceled an upcoming appearance by actor and children’s book author Maulik Pancholy after district leaders raised concerns about what they described as his activism and “lifestyle.”
Pancholy, who is gay, was scheduled to speak out against bullying on May 22 during a rally at Mountain View Middle School in Cumberland County. However, the district’s school board voted unanimously Monday night to cancel his speech after some members expressed concerns and others pointed to the district’s policy of not hosting overtly political events, news media reported. The policy was introduced after the district was criticized for hosting a rally Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Pancholy, 48, is an award-winning actor, including for his roles in the television shows “30 Rock” and “Weeds,” and as the voice of Baljeet in the Disney animated series “Phineas & Ferb.” He has also written children’s books and was appointed by then-President Barack Obama in 2014 to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, where he co-founded a campaign to combat AAPI bullying.
Pancholy’s appearance was planned by the school’s leadership team, which plans an author presentation each year as a “unique educational experience for students,” the district said.
While discussing the performance at Monday night’s meeting, school board members said they did not know what Pancholy’s talk would be about, but one member said he did not want to “take the risk” of what it might entail.
“If you research this person, he labels himself an activist,” said Bud Shaffner, according to Pennlive. “He takes pride in his lifestyle, and I don’t think this should be imposed on our students at any age.”
The Associated Press sent an email message to Pancholy’s publicists Thursday afternoon.
The board’s vote sparked criticism from several parents, students and community members who called the decision “homophobic.” Some have started online petitions calling for Pancholy’s actions to be reinstated.
