The politically volatile Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap has released a statement doubling down on the anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian statements that created a firestorm at the Coachella festival, even as news has emerged that the band and its booking agency split up soon after the uproar began to grow.
“Since our statements at Coachella — exposing the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people — we have faced a coordinated smear campaign,” the group wrote in a social media post on X. Kneecap claimed the “malicious” uproar among those opposed to the band is “based on deliberate distortions and falsehoods. … The reason Kneecap is being targeted is simple — we are telling the truth, and our audience is growing. Those attacking us want to silence criticism of a mass slaughter. They weaponize false accusations of antisemitism to distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.”
The group’s statement did not address news reports that emerged Thursday that Kneecap and its booking agency, Independent Artist Group, had severed their relationship between the first and second weekends of Coachella. The news was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter, which said that it was “unclear” what led to the split between the band and the agency.
The split with IAG soon followed the first display of a “Fuck Israel, free Palestine” message on their big screen on weekend 1 of the festival, which delighted pro-Palestinian fans at the fest while leaving many Jewish attendees or allies outraged. The group claimed that the display of this and other messages was censored from Coachella’s livestream on the first weekend; on weekend 2, no streaming at all took place from the tent Kneecap was performing in. Goldenvoice has not commented on the controversy, which has shown little sign of dying down since the Coachella dust otherwise settled.
In the band’s X statement, the members claimed they are supporting the Palestininan cause because, for them, it is also a local issue, saying: “For over a year, we have used our shows to call out the British and Irish governments’ complicity in war crimes.”
They also again made the argument that their “Fuck Israel” statements are not an attack on Jewish people generally, and claimed that many Jewish people have supported their messages condemning Israel. “We do not give a f*ck what religion anyone practices,” the band’s post continued. “We know there are massive numbers of Jewish people outraged by this genocide just as we are. What we care about is that governments of the countries we perform in are enabling some of the most horrific crimes of our lifetimes — and we will not stay silent. No media spin will change this. Our only concern is the Palestinian people — the 20,000 murdered children and counting. The young people at our gigs see through the lies. They stand on the side of humanity and justice. And that gives us great hope.”
Since the Coachella controversy broke out, those opposing the band have been bringing to light other controversial statements or on-stage actions from Kneecap’s past, some related to the Middle East conflict, some not. The Daily Mail claimed that the band is “now being investigated by counter-terrorism police after allegedly leading pro-Hamas chants,” although the official statement attributed to the Metropolitan Police says only video footage from a concert “has been referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.”
The London newspaper published videos from an O2 Forum Kentish Town concert last November which it says pictures a band member draped in a Hamas flag and leading a chant of “Ooh ahh, Hezbollah.” The videos were initially posted by an antisemitism charity, the Community Security Trust.
Representatives for Kneecap did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new statement or the band’s breakup with its agency.
Kneecap also engaged in a war of words this week with Sharon Osbourne, who said that they “took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements.” Osbourne said that Goldenvoice bore responsibility for allowing the band to project its statements on Coachella’s weekend 2, even without a livesteam. “Allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence,” said the famous manager and wife of rocker Ozzy Osbourne. “This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA. …This band openly support terrorist organizations,” she added. “As someone of both Irish Catholic on my mother’s side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on her father’s side and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved. … I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.”
The band then replied to Osbourne’s talk of their “aggressive” rhetoric in a statement to the BBC: “Statements aren’t aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is though.”
Despite not having representation for live performances at the moment, Kneecap has plenty of concerts already on the books, which may well keep the polarized attitudes about the band inflamed further into 2025. An appearance at the Glastonbury in June is part of a U.K. tour, and the band is booked into largely sold-out dates in North America, starting with the first of two shows at New York’s Rooftop at Pier 17 on Oct. 1.
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