Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis breaks silence on Kneecap controversy
Glastonbury boss Emily Eavis has broken her silence surrounding controversial Irish band Kneecap. The group from Belfast hit the headlines after making pro-Palestine comments at Coachella in April after band member, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig in November.
Though Liam has been released on bail, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said it was "not appropriate" for the Guilty Conscience stars to perform at Glastonbury on the West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday. However, giving her opinion on the divisive band, Emily, said "everyone is welcome".
Talking to the BBC as the festival flung open its doors to thousands of revellers today, she was asked: "You are very used to people picking over every aspect of the lineup but the Prime Minister got involved this time, saying it wasn't appropriate for Kneecap to be playing, how have you responded to that?"
Emily replied: "We haven't responded to that. At the moment we're just focusing on bringing the best festival to the people who want to come here. We're incredibly lucky that so many people want to come to Glastonbury, we have millions of people who want to come."
However, she was then probed: "But it's quite a thing for the Prime Minister to comment, how did you react? How did you feel?"
Looking somewhat irritated, Emily said: "I know, it is, there have been a lot of really heated topics this year, but we remain a platform for many, many artists from all over the world and, you know, everyone is welcome here."
Kneecap replied to the Prime Minister's comments about them on social media, fuming: 'You know what's 'not appropriate' Keir?! Arming a f*****g genocide… solidarity with [Palestinian Action]."
Meanwhile, Trainspotting novelist, Irvine Welsh, also slammed the PM, branding his view on Kneecap a "total embarrassment".
In a new essay published by The Face, Irvine wrote of the band's Palestine support: "Three young musicians from Derry and West Belfast are bringing this to our attention.
"And when all the British state can do in response is persecute a band for this – to try to stop them from playing music and from touring internationally with these ridiculous, nonsensical charges – it really is just an embarrassment to us all.
'"A total embarrassment. It makes you feel embarrassed to be breathing the same air as the people who try to do this, who try to silence these voices."
Kneecap bandmate, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, has been charged with unfurling a flag in public hinting he could be supporting Hezbollah, a group listed as prohibited. However, Kneecap slammed the case against their bandmate as a 'witch hunt' in a fiery post on X.
In striking images, a billboard was put up outside Westminster Magistrate's Court earlier this month, which read: "More blacks, more dogs, more Irish, Mo Chara [Liam's stage name".
The Kneecap star has been released on bail as the terror charge case has been adjourned until August 20.
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