Latest news with #ÓhAnnaidh
Sunday World
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Kneecap rapper hits back at criticism ahead of Glastonbury gig
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the west Belfast trio's appearance at festival would not be 'appropriate' Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, through a crowd of supporters after he appeared charged with a terrorism offence (Jordan Pettitt/PA) A Kneecap star has hit back at criticism over comments about Palestine – and insisted much of the band's controversial behaviour is often a joke. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh accused critics of 'scraping the bottom of the barrel' in their opposition to the west Belfast hip-hop trio. He was speaking in an interview with The Guardian ahead of their Glastonbury appearance this weekend. Mr Ó hAnnaidh (27), who appeared in court last week charged with a terrorism offence over displaying a flag, responded when asked if the band regretted controversial comments previously made on stage. The group faced criticism following their appearance at American music festival Coachella where they displayed anti-Israel and pro-Palestine messages. Footage then resurfaced of gigs from November 2024 and November 2023 respectively, which allegedly showed rapper Mo Chara saying 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' with an alleged Hezbollah flag, and a band member allegedly saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory, kill your local MP.' Referring to his alleged appearance on stage with a Hezbollah flag, over which the rapper is facing terrorism charges, Mr Ó hAnnaidh said: 'It's a joke. I'm a character. S*** is thrown on stage all the time. If I'm supposed to know every f***ing thing that's thrown on stage. 'I don't know every proscribed organisation – I've got enough s*** to worry about up there. I'm thinking about my next lyric, my next joke, the next drop of a beat.' Ó hAnnaidh then went on to defend his controversial 'dead Tory' comments, for which Kneecap apologised, saying: 'Why should I regret it? It was a joke'. Kneecap's Liam Og O Hannaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, through a crowd of supporters after he appeared charged with a terrorism offence (Jordan Pettitt/PA) 'Kneecap is not the story. Genocide in Gaza is' – Belfast rappers release new video demanding action against Israel He added that Kneecap's opponents 'went and combed through eight years of a career… they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel', saying that they 'took those videos out of context'. The group have claimed that their pro-Palestine stance has made them the victim of widespread scrutiny, with the rapper adding: 'The point is, that video wasn't an issue until we said 'Free Palestine' at Coachella'. At Mr Ó hAnnaidh's appearance in Westminster Magistrates Court last week, thousands of fans joined in chants of 'Free, Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara' as he arrived wearing a traditional Palestinian Keffiyeh around his neck. Mr Ó hAnnaidh said he believes the rap group's pro-Palestine stance is drawing crowds to their music. 'The genocide in Palestine is a big reason we're getting such big crowds at our gigs, because we are willing to put that message out there," he added. He claims that mainstream media has tried to 'suppress that idea about the struggle in Palestine'. He added: 'We knew exactly that this (criticism) was going to happen, maybe not to the extreme [level] that it has, but we knew that the Israeli lobbyists and the American government weren't going to stand by idly while we spoke to thousands of young Americans who agree with us. 'They don't want us coming to the American festivals, because they don't want videos of young Americans chanting 'free Palestine' [even though] that is the actual belief in America. They just want to suppress it.' Kneecap are due to play Glastonbury's West Holts stage at 4pm on Saturday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week that their performance would not be 'appropriate'. But Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis said that 'everyone is welcome' at the festival: '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.'
The National
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Kneecap playing 'satirical characters' on stage, Mo Chara says
In an interview with The Guardian – the only official interview the group have given ahead of their much-contested Glastonbury performance – Ó hAnnaidh called his on-stage persona a character after he was asked if he regrets holding a Hezbollah flag, which led to him being charged with terror offences. The singer said: 'It's a joke. I'm a character. Shit is thrown on stage all the time. If I'm supposed to know every fucking thing that's thrown on stage, I'd be in Mensa, Jesus Christ. READ MORE: 'Stop the Genocide': Kneecap release film with Gaza surgeons ahead of Glastonbury set 'I don't know every proscribed organisation – I've got enough shit to worry about up there. I'm thinking about my next lyric, my next joke, the next drop of a beat.' Ó hAnnaidh described Kneecap as 'satirical' when pressed about an old video from a Kneecap gig that resurfaced after their Coachella set, showing the group saying things "the only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP". He told The Guardian: 'Why should I regret it? It was a joke – we're playing characters, it's satirical, it's a fucking joke. And that's not the point. 'The point is, that [video] wasn't an issue until we said 'Free Palestine' at Coachella. That stuff happened 18 months ago, and nobody batted an eyelid. 'Everybody agreed it was a fucking joke, even people that may have been in the room that didn't agree – it's a laugh, we're all having a bit of craic. 'The point is, and the context is, it all [resurfaced] because of Coachella. That's what we should be questioning, not whether I regret things.' READ MORE: IDF soldiers ordered to shoot deliberately at unarmed Gazans waiting for aid The trio are set to perform at Glastonbury on Saturday June 28, though the BBC are unlikely to broadcast their performance. On Thursday, they announced the release of a film ahead of their performance titled Stop the Genocide, which features testimony from medics working on the ground in the enclave and Palestinians directly affected by the genocide. Kneecap have repeatedly pointed out that they 'are not the story', the genocide is, after a leaked letter showed a number of music execs echoing Keir Starmer's views that the group should not be allowed to perform at the festival.
Belfast Telegraph
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Why should I regret it?': Kneecap rapper hits back at criticism ahead of Glastonbury gig
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh accused critics of 'scraping the bottom of the barrel' in their opposition to the west Belfast hip-hop trio. He was speaking in an interview with The Guardian ahead of their Glastonbury appearance this weekend. Mr Ó hAnnaidh (27), who appeared in court last week charged with a terrorism offence over displaying a flag, responded when asked if the band regretted controversial comments previously made on stage. The group faced criticism following their appearance at American music festival Coachella where they displayed anti-Israel and pro-Palestine messages. Footage then resurfaced of gigs from November 2024 and November 2023 respectively, which allegedly showed rapper Mo Chara saying 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' with an alleged Hezbollah flag, and a band member allegedly saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory, kill your local MP.' Referring to his alleged appearance on stage with a Hezbollah flag, over which the rapper is facing terrorism charges, Mr Ó hAnnaidh said: 'It's a joke. I'm a character. S*** is thrown on stage all the time. If I'm supposed to know every f***ing thing that's thrown on stage. 'I don't know every proscribed organisation – I've got enough s*** to worry about up there. I'm thinking about my next lyric, my next joke, the next drop of a beat.' Ó hAnnaidh then went on to defend his controversial 'dead Tory' comments, for which Kneecap apologised, saying: 'Why should I regret it? It was a joke'. 'Kneecap is not the story. Genocide in Gaza is' – Belfast rappers release new video demanding action against Israel He added that Kneecap's opponents 'went and combed through eight years of a career… they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel', saying that they 'took those videos out of context'. The group have claimed that their pro-Palestine stance has made them the victim of widespread scrutiny, with the rapper adding: 'The point is, that video wasn't an issue until we said 'Free Palestine' at Coachella'. At Mr Ó hAnnaidh's appearance in Westminster Magistrates Court last week, thousands of fans joined in chants of 'Free, Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara' as he arrived wearing a traditional Palestinian Keffiyeh around his neck. Mr Ó hAnnaidh said he believes the rap group's pro-Palestine stance is drawing crowds to their music. 'The genocide in Palestine is a big reason we're getting such big crowds at our gigs, because we are willing to put that message out there," he added. He claims that mainstream media has tried to 'suppress that idea about the struggle in Palestine'. He added: 'We knew exactly that this (criticism) was going to happen, maybe not to the extreme [level] that it has, but we knew that the Israeli lobbyists and the American government weren't going to stand by idly while we spoke to thousands of young Americans who agree with us. 'They don't want us coming to the American festivals, because they don't want videos of young Americans chanting 'free Palestine' [even though] that is the actual belief in America. They just want to suppress it.' Kneecap are due to play Glastonbury's West Holts stage at 4pm on Saturday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week that their performance would not be 'appropriate'. But Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis said that 'everyone is welcome' at the festival: '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.'
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Prime Minister weighs in on Kneecap row over Glastonbury show
Prime Minister weighs in on Kneecap row over Glastonbury show Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appeared in court this week charged with displaying a flag in support of a proscribed organisation Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court in London (Image: PA ) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not think rap group Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is 'appropriate'. He made the comments after one of the trio, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, appeared in court this week charged with displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah during a gig last November. In an interview with The Sun, Sir Keir was asked if he thought the band should perform at the festival. 'No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this,' he replied. Adding: 'This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' On Wednesday the west Belfast rapper (whose stage name is Mo Chara) was cheered by hundreds of supporters bearing "Free Speech, Free Palestine" flags as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court with bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J. J. Ó Dochartaigh. Ó hAnnaidh's defence team argued that the charge, which was brought on May 22, was outside the six-month window required to fall under the court's jurisdiction. Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring adjourned the case to August to hear arguments on whether the court has jurisdiction. The rapper, known for songs including Get Your Brits Out, has been released on unconditional bail and Kneecap are scheduled to perform at 4pm next Saturday on Glastonbury Festival's West Holts stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset. Article continues below The Times reports that the BBC will not show the set live on one of its main TV channels, instead featuring pop star Jade, singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile and rock band Weezer who will be performing at the same time. But, according to the newspaper, Kneecap's hour-long performance is expected to be made available on demand afterwards via BBC iPlayer. BBC bosses are said by the Times to be "weighing up" whether to stream the show live on one of the five dedicated iPlayer channels being set up to support the event. The members of Kneecap (Image: Getty Images for BFI ) The footage from the gig in which Ó hAnnaidh is alleged to have displayed an illegal flag was circulated online in the days following a Kneecap performance at US music festival Coachella, where the band repeatedly accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinian people. Last month more than 100 Welsh musicians including Adwaith, Gruff Rhys and Gwenno issued a joint statement in solidarity with the group. 'Kneecap is not the story, the story is the slaughter in Gaza,' they said. This came after a show of solidarity from musicians such as Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Pulp, the Pogues, Massive Attack, Fontaines DC, Thin Lizzy and Yard Act. "Genocide is the story," they said. "And the silence, acquiescence and support of those crimes against humanity by the elected British Government is the real story. "Solidarity with all artists with the moral courage to speak out against Israeli war crimes, and the ongoing persecution and slaughter of the Palestinian people." Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said the BBC 'should not be showing' Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury, adding: 'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.' Last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after Ms Badenoch tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. The band split the grant between two Belfast youth organisations, Irish language group Glór Na Móna and Shankill Road's R-City. Following this week's court hearing, Ó hAnnaidh said: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. But most importantly: free, free Palestine.' Kneecap denies supporting Hezbollah. In their initial statement responding to the charge, the band said: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction.' The Israeli military has bombed large swathes of Gaza in response to a Hamas-led attack in October 2023 in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Gaza's health ministry has since said that Israel's attacks have killed at least 55,637 people. Article continues below
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Starmer claims Kneecap Glastonbury set 'not appropriate'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has claimed he does not think Belfast rap trio Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is "appropriate". He made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. In an interview with The Sun, Mr Starmer was asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, to which he replied: "No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. "This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate." It comes after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed she thought the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecap's performance at the festival next week. Ms Badenoch said in the X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. "One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. "As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism." The Tory Leader has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. After the case, the band split the money between two community groups - one on either side of the Belfast peace line. Watch: Kneecap's Mo Chara tells Dublin crowd 'I'm a free man!' Kneecap took aim at Ms Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May. The song mocked her attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss. On Wednesday, Mr Ó hAnnaidh was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin, whose stage name is Móglaí Bap, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, whose stage name is DJ Próvaí, at Westminster Magistrates' Court in "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts. Speaking to RTÉ News before their gig in Dublin on Thursday, DJ Próvaí said that there was "great support there from 1,000 people" and that fans had gathered because "they know we're going to win". During the proceedings, a prosecutor told the court the 27-year-old is "well within his rights" to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a "wholly different thing". Mr Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on 20 August. Following the hearing, the rapper said: "For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. "If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. "But most importantly: free, free Palestine." The charge came following a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs. In April, Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised". In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. "We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? "To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. "Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. "The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it." Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. A BBC spokesperson said: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
