Kneecap Shocks as Expected With Raucous Glastonbury Set: “The BBC Editor Is Going to Have Some Job”

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Kneecap shocked exactly as expected at a raucous Glastonbury set on Saturday.

Recently, I’ve been facing a lot of backlash towards an Irish rap group I’m a fan of. One of their members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terror-related offense last month. Despite the criticism, the BBC, one of their partners, decided to air their performance. U.K. culture secretary Lisa Nandy stated that this group thrives on public attention. She expressed her disapproval on Thursday, saying, “To be honest, I don’t want to see them on my TV screens.” As a gamer, I’m left wondering about the future of their performances and the impact it might have on their music.

On a Saturday afternoon at Glastonbury’s West Holts stage, which was cordoned off because of overcrowding when they took the stage, Ó hAnnaidh declared to the crowd of 30,000 people: “Glastonbury, I am a free man!” Prior to the band’s performance, clips of news reports about his terror charges were shown, along with pro-Palestine messages and videos featuring U.K. politicians criticizing the decision to allow the band to play at the festival.

Ó hAnnaidh added, “It’s astounding how many Palestinian flags are in sight! The BBC editor certainly has a challenging task ahead.

The band members expressed their gratitude towards the Eavis family. They acknowledged the immense stress they were under and commended them for holding up. They were thankful for being given the opportunity to perform, stating, ‘Well done to them.’

The leader of your nation objected to our performance, so they were not fond of Keir Starmer!” Throughout their hour-long show, the band frequently expressed this sentiment, inciting the crowd to echo it back. Emphasizing their strong support for Palestine, Kneecap often criticized the British and American governments, as well as the U.S. media.

Last May, when videos surfaced online showcasing my favorite band advocating for the demise of British ministers and enthusiastically cheering “long live Hamas, long live Hezbollah,” I took notice. You see, in the U.K., it’s unlawful to express approval for Hezbollah – a Shia Muslim conglomerate that includes both political and military entities in Lebanon – as they are designated as terrorists by British law enforcement. The Met Police then announced an investigation into these troubling actions.

The group led by Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, commonly known as the Kneecap, has clarified that a recent video featuring them has been misunderstood. They emphasize that they’ve never endorsed or supported organizations like Hamas or Hezbollah. Ó hAnnaidh, who is set to appear in court in London later in August, was involved in this group.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but feel deeply moved when I see gaming legends standing up for what they believe in. The trio, stars of Rich Peppiatt’s “print the legend” biopic, have caught attention not just for their gaming prowess, but also for speaking out about their pro-Palestine views on stage. Following the news of Ó hAnnaidh’s charge, the band didn’t stay silent. Instead, they rose to defend themselves, stating, “This is political policing. This is a diversionary tactic. While 14,000 babies are about to starve in Gaza, with food aid sent from around the world sitting on the other side of a wall, once again, the British establishment is fixated on us.

In the previous year, the movie “Kneecap,” featuring Michael Fassbender, grabbed attention in film news. Director Peppiatt achieved a remarkable feat at the BAFTAs by equaling the record for nominations for a first-time director with six. He took home one BAFTA award specifically for exceptional debut by a British writer, director, or producer, demonstrating his dual role as both writer and director of the film.

As a gamer, I’ve found myself in a tricky spot due to my group’s political stances. During our Coachella performance in April, we showcased messages related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which resulted in the cancellation of our shows in Germany. Subsequently, we bid farewell to our booking agency, Independent Artist Group, as confirmed by sources to The Hollywood Reporter.

Glastonbury Festival runs from June 25-29.

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2025-06-28 20:24