Pennsylvania school district cancels actor’s speech over activism and ‘lifestyle’ concerns

MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania – A Pennsylvania school district canceled the upcoming appearance of actor and children’s book author Maulik Pancholy after district leaders cited concerns about what they described as his activism and “lifestyle.”

Pancholy, who is gay, was scheduled to speak out against bullying during a May 22 assembly at Mountain View Middle School in Cumberland County. However, the district’s school board voted unanimously Monday night to cancel his talk after some members expressed their concerns and others noted the district’s policy about not hosting overtly political events, news outlets reported. . The policy was enacted after the district was criticized for hosting a Donald Trump rally during his 2016 campaign for president.

Pancholy, 48, is an award-winning actor, including for his roles on 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 in 2014 was appointed by then-President Barack Obama to serve on 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 scheduled by the school administration, which each year schedules a presentation by the author as a “unique educational experience for students,” according to the district.

When discussing the appearance at Monday night’s meeting, school board members said they didn’t know what Pancholy’s speech would be about, but one member said he didn’t “want to take the risk” of what it might entail.

“If you look up this individual, he calls himself an activist,” Bud Shaffner said, according to Pennlive. “He is proud of his lifestyle and I don’t think that should be imposed on our students, at any age.”

The Associated Press emailed Pancholy’s publicists Thursday afternoon.

The board’s vote drew criticism from several parents, students and community members who called the decision “homophobic.” Some started online petitions calling for Pancholy’s appearance to be reinstated.