Kneecap Concerts Canceled In Germany Following Anti-Israel Statements At Coachella

by

As a passionate admirer, I’ve found myself disheartened by the news that several concerts for the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have been canceled in Germany. This decision comes following their controversial “fuck Israel” statement during their Coachella performance and the resurgence of videos from one of their concerts where they advocated for the death of members of parliament.

Recently, it was noticed that the German music festivals Hurricane and Southside, managed by FKP Scorpio, seemed to exclude Kneecap from their lineups without providing a reason. The band announced on their social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) that they “will not be performing at this year’s Hurricane or Southside Festival.” Instead, they directed fans towards three headline shows in Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg scheduled for early September. However, as of Wednesday, the ticket pages for these concerts indicate that these performances have been cancelled too.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that some of Kneecap’s comments about Israel-Palestine have sparked controversy, as they could potentially be classified as hate speech under certain German legal interpretations. For instance, in places like Berlin and other German states, the phrase “From the River to the Sea” is considered a statement that could lead to prosecution due to its perceived inflammatory nature.

The recent cancellation of German shows marks another consequence for Kneecap, following their controversial pro-Palestine, anti-Israel statements during Coachella’s second weekend this month. Organizations like Creative Community for Peace in the music industry, as well as individuals such as Sharon Osbourne, have advocated for the band’s visas to be denied. After the first weekend of Coachella and before the second, Kneecap parted ways with their booking agency IAG; however, the reason behind this separation remains unclear. This split with the agency could potentially raise questions about the group’s visas since IAG was responsible for sponsoring them.

After that, British counter-terrorism officials started examining old footage from Kneecap concerts, in which the band seemed to express backing for Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups classified as terrorist organizations by the U.K., along with additional videos where they advocated for the demise of Conservative MPs within Britain.

Kneecap originated from Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2017, and have been a contentious and vocal political band since then. The trio comprises Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí. They are prominently linked with Irish Republicanism, advocating for the unification of Ireland free from British control. Kneecap gained recognition in 2018 with their debut single “C.E.A.R.T.A.,” which means “rights” in Irish. Their first studio album, 3CAG, was released the same year, and their second album, Fine Art, came out under Heavenly Recordings in 2024.

The kneecap has consistently refuted accusations of antisemitism following the recent uproar, clarifying that their comments are directed at the Israeli government. They believe the criticism they’ve received is part of a defamatory campaign. On Tuesday, they made a statement on Instagram, asserting that they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah.

The band made clear they do not endorse nor provoke violence towards any MP or person, emphasizing that such actions are never their intention,” the Kneecap band stated. They added that previous performance clips have been misconstrued and are currently being exploited for malicious purposes.

After voicing my concerns against the U.S. administration at Coachella to a wave of approval and unity, I’ve found myself swept up in a torrent of disapproval and criticism from Britain’s political elite,” I penned down. “The true transgressions aren’t in our performances; the real crimes are the deafening silence and collusion of those in positions of power.

Read More

2025-04-30 23:24