Irish rappers Kneecap perform controversial Glastonbury set
Irish rap trio Kneecap staged a defiant performance at Britain's Glastonbury Festival Saturday, days after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they should not be performing there.
The group has made headlines in recent months with their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance, and one of their members has been charged with a "terror" offence for allegedly supporting Hezbollah.
"Glastonbury, I'm a free man", said Liam O'Hanna, who appeared in court earlier this month accused of having displayed a Hezbollah flag while saying "Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah" at a London concert last year.
The Iran-backed Lebanese force Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are banned in the UK, and it is an offence to express support for them.
O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, has denied the charge.
"This situation can be quite stressful but it's minimal compared to what the Palestinian people are (facing)," O'Hanna, wearing his trademark keffiyah and black sunglasses told thousands of cheering supporters, many waving Palestinian flags.
O'Hanna also gave "a shout out" to Palestine Action Group, which interior minister Yvette Cooper announced last week would become a banned group under the Terrorism Act of 2000.
- 'Playing characters' -
Fellow band member DJ Provai wore a t-shirt dedicated to the campaign group, whose prohibition comes after its activists broke into a British Royal Air Force base and vandalised two planes.
Before Kneecap took to the stage, rap punk duo Bob Vylan led the crowd in chants of "Death, death to the IDF", a reference to the Israeli Defence Forces.
Later, Kneecap led the crowd chanting abuse directed at Starmer.
Formed in 2017, Kneecap is no stranger to controversy. To their fans they are daring provocateurs who stand up to the establishment; to their detractors they are dangerous extremists.
Their Irish and English lyrics are filled with references to drugs, they repeatedly clashed with the UK's previous Conservative government and have vocally opposed British rule in Northern Ireland.
The group apologised this year after a 2023 video emerged appearing to show one singer calling for the death of British Conservative MPs.
Two MPs have been murdered in Britain in the past nine years and many of them worry about their safety.
But Kneecap deny the terrorism charge and say the video featuring the Hezbollah flag has been taken out of context.
Asked whether he regretted waving it, and other comments caught on camera, Chara told the Guardian in an interview published Friday: "Why should I regret it? It was a joke -- we're playing characters."
- Glastonbury rejects criticism -
Since O'Hanna was charged, the group has been pulled from a slew of summer gigs, including a Scottish festival appearance and various performances in Germany.
But Glastonbury organisers defied Starmer who had said it was not "appropriate" for Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury, one of the country's biggest and most famous music festivals.
"People that don't like the politics of the event can go somewhere else," Michael Eavis, co-founder of the festival said in AN article published in a free newspaper for festival-goers.
Public broadcaster the BBC faced pressure not to air the concert.
In statement Saturday, a spokesperson for the broadcaster said the performance would not be shown live but would likely be available on-demand afterwards.
vid-pdh/jj
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Police review Kneecap's controversial Glastonbury gig
Police will assess videos of comments made by Irish rappers Kneecap at the UK's Glastonbury festival, where the group led obscene chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and condemned Israel. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, is also in the spotlight after leading crowds in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF" at the festival's West Holts stage. "We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police said in a post on social media. "Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation." Politicians and music industry bosses had called on organisers to pull Kneecap after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence in May for allegedly displaying a flag of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at a concert while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". Ó hAnnaidh denied the charge. "Glastonbury, I'm a free man," Mo Chara said after appearing on stage on Saturday afternoon (early Sunday AEST). "The prime minister of your country - not mine - said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer," Mo Chara told the crowd, wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with Palestinians. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would "start a riot outside the courts", before clarifying: "No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine." At least 30,000 people, hundreds of them with Palestinian flags, crammed into the West Holts stage in blazing sunshine to watch the trio, causing organisers to close the area. Mo Chara told the crowd the situation over the lawsuit was stressful but it was minimal compared to what the Palestinians were going through every day. Later in the set, Mo Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes, saying, "There's no hiding it." Irwin Kelly, 40, said the trio got the crowd really involved in the set. "Obviously it had a bit of controversy surrounding it," he said. "But it's art, it's performance." The Israeli embassy in the UK earlier said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival". Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a UK government spokesperson said. "We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. "The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC director general to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer." A BBC spokesperson said some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were "deeply offensive" and a warning was issued on screen during the live stream. Starmer told the Sun newspaper in June it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at the famed music festival in the southwest of England. with PA Police will assess videos of comments made by Irish rappers Kneecap at the UK's Glastonbury festival, where the group led obscene chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and condemned Israel. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, is also in the spotlight after leading crowds in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF" at the festival's West Holts stage. "We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police said in a post on social media. "Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation." Politicians and music industry bosses had called on organisers to pull Kneecap after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence in May for allegedly displaying a flag of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at a concert while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". Ó hAnnaidh denied the charge. "Glastonbury, I'm a free man," Mo Chara said after appearing on stage on Saturday afternoon (early Sunday AEST). "The prime minister of your country - not mine - said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer," Mo Chara told the crowd, wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with Palestinians. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would "start a riot outside the courts", before clarifying: "No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine." At least 30,000 people, hundreds of them with Palestinian flags, crammed into the West Holts stage in blazing sunshine to watch the trio, causing organisers to close the area. Mo Chara told the crowd the situation over the lawsuit was stressful but it was minimal compared to what the Palestinians were going through every day. Later in the set, Mo Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes, saying, "There's no hiding it." Irwin Kelly, 40, said the trio got the crowd really involved in the set. "Obviously it had a bit of controversy surrounding it," he said. "But it's art, it's performance." The Israeli embassy in the UK earlier said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival". Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a UK government spokesperson said. "We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. "The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC director general to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer." A BBC spokesperson said some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were "deeply offensive" and a warning was issued on screen during the live stream. Starmer told the Sun newspaper in June it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at the famed music festival in the southwest of England. with PA Police will assess videos of comments made by Irish rappers Kneecap at the UK's Glastonbury festival, where the group led obscene chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and condemned Israel. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, is also in the spotlight after leading crowds in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF" at the festival's West Holts stage. "We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police said in a post on social media. "Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation." Politicians and music industry bosses had called on organisers to pull Kneecap after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence in May for allegedly displaying a flag of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at a concert while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". Ó hAnnaidh denied the charge. "Glastonbury, I'm a free man," Mo Chara said after appearing on stage on Saturday afternoon (early Sunday AEST). "The prime minister of your country - not mine - said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer," Mo Chara told the crowd, wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with Palestinians. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would "start a riot outside the courts", before clarifying: "No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine." At least 30,000 people, hundreds of them with Palestinian flags, crammed into the West Holts stage in blazing sunshine to watch the trio, causing organisers to close the area. Mo Chara told the crowd the situation over the lawsuit was stressful but it was minimal compared to what the Palestinians were going through every day. Later in the set, Mo Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes, saying, "There's no hiding it." Irwin Kelly, 40, said the trio got the crowd really involved in the set. "Obviously it had a bit of controversy surrounding it," he said. "But it's art, it's performance." The Israeli embassy in the UK earlier said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival". Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a UK government spokesperson said. "We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. "The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC director general to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer." A BBC spokesperson said some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were "deeply offensive" and a warning was issued on screen during the live stream. Starmer told the Sun newspaper in June it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at the famed music festival in the southwest of England. with PA Police will assess videos of comments made by Irish rappers Kneecap at the UK's Glastonbury festival, where the group led obscene chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and condemned Israel. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, is also in the spotlight after leading crowds in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF" at the festival's West Holts stage. "We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police said in a post on social media. "Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation." Politicians and music industry bosses had called on organisers to pull Kneecap after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence in May for allegedly displaying a flag of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at a concert while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah". Ó hAnnaidh denied the charge. "Glastonbury, I'm a free man," Mo Chara said after appearing on stage on Saturday afternoon (early Sunday AEST). "The prime minister of your country - not mine - said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer," Mo Chara told the crowd, wearing the keffiyeh scarf associated with Palestinians. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would "start a riot outside the courts", before clarifying: "No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine." At least 30,000 people, hundreds of them with Palestinian flags, crammed into the West Holts stage in blazing sunshine to watch the trio, causing organisers to close the area. Mo Chara told the crowd the situation over the lawsuit was stressful but it was minimal compared to what the Palestinians were going through every day. Later in the set, Mo Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes, saying, "There's no hiding it." Irwin Kelly, 40, said the trio got the crowd really involved in the set. "Obviously it had a bit of controversy surrounding it," he said. "But it's art, it's performance." The Israeli embassy in the UK earlier said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival". Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a UK government spokesperson said. "We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. "The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC director general to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer." A BBC spokesperson said some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were "deeply offensive" and a warning was issued on screen during the live stream. Starmer told the Sun newspaper in June it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at the famed music festival in the southwest of England. with PA
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
Police probe UK bands for ‘hate speech' during Glastonbury set
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music Festivals. Followed categories will be added to My News. Police have put UK bands Bob Vylan and Kneecap on notice following their controversial performances at the Glastonbury festival on Saturday. Avon and Somerset Police are examining video footage from the famed music festival to determine if criminal offences were committed when bands Bob Vylan and Kneecap took to the stage. The investigation was sparked after British punk duo Bob Vylan led festival-goers in chanting 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF' – referencing the Israel Defense Forces – to the packed-out crowd, many of whom were waving Palestinian flags. Bobby Vylan of Bob Vylan performs on stage during Glastonbury festival. Picture:The singer crowd-surfs while chanting 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF'. Picture:Irish rap trio Kneecap took to the West Holts Stage after Bob Vylan and followed suit, encouraging concertgoers to chant 'free Palestine' during their set. While onstage, band member Naoise O Caireallain, who performs as Moglai Bap, also slammed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as their fans waved banners and wore face paint to support the band. 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f**k Keir Starmer,' he told the crowd. Provaí of Kneecap makes a statement during day four at Glastonbury. Picture:The performance came just one after before JJ O Dochartaigh, aka DJ Próvaí, was seen wearing an anti-Israel campaign group 'Palestine Action' T-shirt in a social media post. The stage incidents have since prompted police to review video evidence from both performances to assess whether to proceed with criminal investigations. Dochartaigh also wore a 'We Are All Palestine Action' T-shirt ahead of the band's performance. Picture: X 'We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon,' Avon and Somerset Police tweeted on X. 'Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' The performances have also drawn criticism from the UK government, with a spokesperson saying in a statement, 'We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.' Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap during their Glastonbury set. Picture:Social media has also exploded with outrage over the bands' controversial appearances, with US rapper Azealia Banks among the voices condemning the performances. 'That is actually crazy. To allow an artist to incite a mob and shout death upon anyone at a major music festival is CRAZZZZYYYY,' she tweeted on X. 'And like how does he think that's going to accomplish anything? Wooooow the UK is losing its mind.' 'There's nothing worse than artists who lose their sense of subjectivity. The art of 'doing everything to express what I feel' should be a matter for therapy, not for performance,' another echoed. 'Way to turn a music festival into hate festival. So sad and crazy,' another commented. While some X users argued that the bands were simply exercising their 'freedom of speech', their comments were mostly drowned out. 'This is NOT free speech. This IS HATE SPEECH! Absolutely disgusting that this allowed,' one tweeted, with another noting, 'I remember when music festivals were about coming together around music and unity with fellow humans. I guess this one is a Nazi death rally … glad I'm too old for this.' Originally published as Police probe UK bands for 'hate speech' during Glastonbury set
Canberra Times
3 hours ago
- Canberra Times
Police review Kneecap's controversial Glastonbury gig
Politicians and music industry bosses had called on organisers to pull Kneecap after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence in May for allegedly displaying a flag of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at a concert while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".
