UCLA Cancels Bari Weiss' Journalism Lecture Amid Student Protests

Weiss' appearance as the Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecturer sparked backlash from UCLA students.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Bari Weiss' scheduled lecture on "the future of journalism" at UCLA's Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture series was canceled on Tuesday amid student protests and online criticism of the CBS News editor-in-chief's planned appearance on February 27.

Why it matters

The cancellation highlights ongoing debates around free speech, academic freedom, and the role of diverse perspectives in journalism and higher education, particularly when it comes to controversial figures like Weiss.

The details

Weiss, a former opinion writer for The New York Times who has drawn criticism for her views on topics like cancel culture and identity politics, was set to deliver the annual Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture. However, the event was canceled after UCLA students protested her selection, arguing that Weiss' presence would make many students feel unsafe and unwelcome on campus.

  • The lecture was scheduled for February 27, 2026.
  • The event was canceled on February 18, 2026, about a week before the planned lecture.

The players

Bari Weiss

A former opinion writer for The New York Times who currently serves as the editor-in-chief of CBS News.

UCLA

The University of California, Los Angeles, where the canceled lecture was set to take place.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions around free speech, diversity, and inclusion on college campuses, as well as the challenges facing media figures who hold controversial views.