Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap faced backlash over their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel messaging during their Coachella performance, where they displayed “F— Israel, Free Palestine” on stage. They characterized the criticism as a “coordinated smear campaign,” claiming that festival organizers censored the livestream of their performance after the first weekend. While the performance was not broadcast, images circulated on social media, prompting outrage.
Tribe of Nova, organizers of Israel’s Nova Music Festival, where a Hamas attack occurred recently, condemned Kneecap’s message as hurtful and invited them to experience the trauma of those affected by the violence. In a statement on X, Kneecap defended their stance, asserting that their critics aim to silence discussions of the conflict and that accusations of antisemitism are being used to distract from what they described as genocide. They emphasized their concern for human rights over religious affiliations, stating their solidarity with Jewish individuals opposing violence.
Sharon Osbourne, a notable critic and TV personality, accused the group of hate speech and called for U.S. officials to revoke their work visas. She acknowledged the importance of music as a unifying force but criticized Kneecap for using their platform to promote aggressive political statements. During their second performance at Coachella, Kneecap led a “free Palestine” chant, with band member Mo Chara drawing parallels between the Irish experience of persecution and the plight of Palestinians. The group’s comments come amid reports of extensive casualties in Gaza, with over 50,000 reported dead since the conflict’s escalation. Osbourne urged festival organizers, Goldenvoice, to reconsider Kneecap’s participation in future events.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
