Calls for Removal of Kneecap from Festivals
Politicians have urged for the Irish trio Kneecap to be removed from the line-up of Glastonbury and TRNSMT 2025 following a recent counter-terrorism investigation.
Counter-Terrorism Investigation Sparks Outrage
The calls to exclude Kneecap from the upcoming festival dates emerged after it was revealed earlier this week that counter-terrorist police are examining footage from a show where a member of the group allegedly shouted “Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah” while displaying a Hezbollah flag.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are designated as terrorist organizations, according to the Great Britain Government. Additionally, it is a crime under the 2000 terrorism law to “invite the support of a forbidden organization.” Further investigation has indicated police are also assessing a second video from one of their concerts where it reportedly appears that the group encourages violence against conservative parliamentarians.
As reported by Sky News, it is believed that the footage comes from a November 2023 performance, during which one of the members allegedly incited the crowd with comments like: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
In the past decade, two British MPs have been assassinated: Joe Cox from Labour in 2016 and Conservative David Amess in 2021.
The behavior displayed at the Kneecap concert clearly crosses the line from political expression to incitement to violence.
This is completely unacceptable, and we strongly condemn it. pic.twitter.com/f8ruo2ykfe
– Joe Cox Foundation (@jocoxfoundation) April 28, 2025
The Joe Cox Foundation, a charity formed after Cox’s tragic murder in her constituency, released a statement via X/Twitter condemning the group, asserting they had clearly crossed the line from political expression to incitement.
Similarly, the daughter of Conservative MP Amess expressed her shock to BBC, describing the rhetoric used as “stupid and dangerous,” and said the group should apologize for the hurt caused.
Amid growing pressure from politicians on festival organizers as Kneecap approaches its summer dates, including performances at Wide Awake Festival, TRNSMT, and Glastonbury, calls for removal have intensified.
Today (April 28), Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, David Taylor, shared a letter directed to Michael Eavis requesting the festival organizers reconsider Kneecap’s inclusion in light of these allegations. He asserted that if the reports were accurate, the group’s actions and statements ventured into “the dangerous territory of incitement to violence and support for extremism, as well as severe anti-Semitism.”
He also emphasized that allowing the group to take the stage would be deeply concerning, especially during a time of heightened political and social tensions.
I wrote to @glastonbury urging them to remove Kneecap based on their alleged actions and well-documented behavior.
The call for violence against colleagues is disgusting, and I stand in solidarity with MPs from all parties.
Violence has no place in politics. pic.twitter.com/zn4mhhetua
– David Taylor MP (@davidtaylor85) April 28, 2025
Scottish First Minister John Swinney also joined the call for Kneecap’s removal from the TRNSMT lineup, questioning whether such rhetoric should be permitted at the music festival. Speaking at the Congress of the Scottish Trade Union, he stated, “The language they used is wholly unacceptable. It is inconceivable that this would be tolerated.”
He added, “For a group like Kneecap, it would be extremely difficult for them to perform at TRNSMT as they have crossed the line. It would be unacceptable for them to take the stage.”
NME reached out to the organizers of TRNSMT and Glastonbury for comments.
In response to the counter-terrorism investigation, Kneecap posted on social media, stating: “18 months of our performances regarding the genocide have not been investigated by British counter-terrorism police, along with the caption ‘some facts’.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also commented on the situation, highlighting that tax money had been used to fund Kneecap’s activities. She stated, “The Labour Party did not contest the legal case brought by the group and allowed them to walk away with £14,250 of our taxpayers’ money. Perhaps they now see the consequences of their complacency.”
This month, Kneecap also appeared at Coachella, where they led the crowd in singing a chant regarding the late Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Incidents at Coachella have led Sharon Osbourne to call for the revocation of their work visas. Reports from the festival indicated that organizers were blindsided by the politically charged nature of their performance, which included features of missing persons projected on screen and chants for “free, free Palestine.”
Kneecap statement:
Since our statements at Coachella regarding the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people, we have encountered a coordinated smear against us.
For over a year, our shows have been a platform to highlight the complicity of the British and Irish governments in war crimes. pic.twitter.com/mbojb5qbop
– Kneecap (@kneecapceool) April 25, 2025
Since then, Kneecap has characterized the backlash as a “coordinated smear” aimed at undermining their attempts to “expose the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.”
“For over a year, we have utilized our performances to provoke awareness of the complicity of the British and Irish governments in war crimes. The recent attacks against us, largely coming from the United States, are rooted in deliberate distortions and lies,” they stated, adding that they are taking steps against these malicious efforts.
“The reason why Kneecap is targeted is clear: we speak the truth, and our audience continues to grow,” the statement added. “Those attacking us are attempting to silence criticism of widespread violence. They hurl false accusations of anti-Semitism to divert, confuse, and cover up for the genocide, and there is a substantial number of Jewish individuals who are outraged by this as well.”
“We care about the Palestinian people — 20,000 children killed and counting.”
They praised their audience, noting that they “see through the lies” and “stand for humanity and justice,” concluding with, “And that gives us hope.”
As of now, the group remains scheduled to perform at both festivals.
Earlier today, their massive Belfast show alongside Fontaines DC sold out in just half an hour, despite calls from the DUP to cancel it.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/politicians-call-for-kneecap-to-be-removed-from-glastonbury-and-trnsmt-line-ups-following-counter-terrorism-investigation-3858944?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=politicians-call-for-kneecap-to-be-removed-from-glastonbury-and-trnsmt-line-ups-following-counter-terrorism-investigation
