The Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap faced backlash for their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel messaging during their Coachella performance earlier this month, where they displayed the slogan “F— Israel, Free Palestine” on stage. Following the festival, the group accused organizers of censoring their livestream performance and described the backlash as a “coordinated smear campaign.” Despite the performance not being aired, images of their messaging circulated widely on social media, stirring outrage.
Tribe of Nova, the organizers of Israel’s Nova Music Festival, where a previous Hamas attack killed 1,200 people, expressed that Kneecap’s message “deeply hurt” their community and invited the band to learn about the impact of the attacks. In response, Kneecap asserted that critics aimed to silence discussions about what they termed “mass slaughter” and accused them of using allegations of antisemitism to distract from the issue. They emphasized their commitment to speaking out against what they view as horrific government actions and reiterated their support for Jewish individuals who oppose violence.
TV personality Sharon Osbourne was among the prominent critics, branding Kneecap’s actions as hate speech and calling for the U.S. to revoke their work visas. She stated that music should unite, not promote terrorism or hateful messages. During their second performance, the band led the audience in chants for Palestine, with member Mo Chara recalling the historical suffering of the Irish. The ongoing conflict has reportedly resulted in over 50,000 deaths in Gaza. Osbourne argued that Goldenvoice, the festival’s organizer, should have reconsidered allowing the group to perform again after their initial set.
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