When Malala Yousafzai accepted the Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center last week, one thing was missing from the ceremony:

A scheduled videotape performance by 14-year-old pop singer Ayla Potamkin, a Colorado girl with deep Philadelphia roots, who wrote a song to honor the 17-year-old Pakistani human-rights activist.

Advisers to Yousafzai, people familiar with the matter said, insisted that the song be struck from the event, telling Constitution Center officials that its ardently pro-America theme was offensive and insensitive to other nations.

"It was unfortunate," said former Gov. Ed Rendell, vice chairman of the center's board of trustees. "And I think it broke Ayla's heart."

He said Yousafzai - known to the world as just Malala - did not take part in the discussions. The talks occurred between her representatives and the center staff.

Efforts to contact Eason Jordan, a spokesman for the Malala Fund, were unsuccessful Tuesday. The foundation led by Malala focuses on helping girls go to school and speak up for their right to an education.

Jeffrey Rosen, president and chief executive officer of the Constitution Center, said excising the song, titled "America," was "absolutely" the right decision, given the objections of Yousafzai's representatives.

"The whole point of the ceremony is to honor her in a way she felt comfortable with," he said, adding that he did not find the song troubling. "We just learned from her team that they objected, and respected their wishes."

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At tribute to Liberty Medal honoree Malala, a song unsung