Coachella Organizers Overlooked Vital Messages from Kneecap

Coachella 2025 Controversy

The organizers of Coachella 2025 reportedly were “blinded” by missing messages and notes of NOTEECAP at the festival.

• READ MORE: Knee cup on the cover – giving peace, protest and parties a chance

Performances and Political Messaging

The Irish rap group Kneecap gained significant attention for their performances on the Sonora stage during both weekends of the California festival.

For the first time, a live stream of their set was abruptly cut after they expressed support for Palestinians and also incited the crowd with provocative anti-Margaret Thatcher sentiments. “Not only did it be,” they remarked later, referencing their critique of Thatcher, “Nash’s exchange of messages regarding the US-supported genocide in Gaza never appeared on the screens.”

During the second weekend, the group initiated their own live broadcast, and political commentator Hassan Piker streamed their set on Twitch. Slogans such as “Fuck ISRAEL,” “FREE PALESTINE,” “Israel commits genocide against the Palestinian people,” and “this is backed by the US government, which arms and finances Israel despite their war crimes,” flashed on the screen throughout their performance.

Some toothless messages about the exchange of coache 🤝🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/wbhzbrczl5

– Knight Cup (@kneecapceool) April 19, 2025

During their second set, Mo Chara delivered a brief speech to the audience: “The Irish were once oppressed by the British, but we were never bombed from the sky, and this is nowhere to go.”

“The Palestinians have nowhere to go; this is their home, and they bomb them from the sky,” he added. “If you don’t call it genocide, what the hell do you call it?” The group then led a chant of “free, free Palestine.”

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The post separated by the cranks (@neecap32)

Response to Controversies

In a recent report from Hollywood Reporter, Paul Tollett, General Director of Goldenvoice festival organizers, mentioned they were “called out” over NOTEECAP’s actions after Jewish groups accused them of providing a platform for controversial messaging.

NOTEECAP’s long-standing support for Palestine has resonated across social media and television performances. Last year, they voiced their stance against what they described as the “occupation and genocide” in Gaza, while also helping to raise nearly £100,000 for a voluntary gym in the Aida refugee camp in Palestine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzlsid29ba8

Recently, they condemned Israel for violating the ceasefire in Gaza, calling out actions against “the most vulnerable people on Earth.” They also critiqued Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, referring to him derogatorily after his recent visit to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

Earlier this year, when their film was notably left out of Oscar nominations despite being on the list, the group tweeted, “Oscar Fuck. Free Palestine.”

Their statements corresponded with their reactions to the news of the ceasefire in Gaza on January 16, where they stated: “We must not forget what Israel did.”