Irish Band Kneecap Displays Anti-Israel Messages During Coachella Weekend 2 Set ‘Blindsiding’ Festival Organizers

by

At Coachella 2025 during my performance at weekend two, Kneecap made headlines not because of typical band hype. Instead, we performed in the Sonora tent with massive screens displaying references to genocide, criticisms of Israel, and a call for Palestine’s liberation. On April 18th, our set also denounced the U.S. for its military backing of Israel. As a member of this Irish hip-hop group, I stand by what we expressed through our music.

At the Coachella music festival, where political statements are sometimes expressed, a call to “Fuck Israel” from a band has sparked outrage among Jewish organizations. They’ve accused Goldenvoice (a subsidiary of AEG), the event promoter, for booking this band, as it has been linked to extremist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. After their performance at Coachella, the band posted several videos on social media about their “unfiltered message” and urged young Americans to share these clips with President Trump, using a disrespectful term that starts with the letter ‘c’.

The media outlet, The Hollywood Reporter, has contacted AEG for a response. It’s been reported by sources that Paul Tollett, Goldenvoice’s CEO, was taken aback by the band’s move. Scooter Braun, on his Instagram Sunday after Kneecap’s performance, praised Paul as a good person and an advocate for survivors of the Nova Music Festival. Braun highlighted that Tollett had attended the LA memorial exhibit Braun organized to honor those who perished in the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel. Not only did Tollett attend the exhibit, but he also spent five hours there and then spoke with survivors.

During its weekend 2 performances, the Sonora Tent didn’t broadcast live, leading some to speculate that this might have been a deliberate move since the band could potentially use the platform to express inflammatory sentiments. On the other hand, during their weekend 1 performance, the stream abruptly ended prior to the conclusion of the set.

Kneecap, a vocal and politically charged band, originated from Belfast, Northern Ireland back in 2017. They’ve been a subject of controversy due to their strong ties to Irish Republicanism, a movement advocating for the independence of Ireland from British rule. The trio consists of vocalists Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap, along with DJ Próvaí. Their debut single, “C.E.A.R.T.A.” (meaning ‘rights’ in Irish), broke through in 2018. They released their first studio album titled “3CAG” the same year and their second album “Fine Art” under Heavenly Recordings in 2024.

Previously, Kneecap asserted that their pro-Palestine messages and anti-Margaret Thatcher chants were suppressed at the festival. “We’ll return to Coachella next Friday and resolve this issue,” the band tweeted last week, accompanied by a Palestinian flag emoji.

About a week after, they intensified their proclamations against Israel and for Palestine on-screen, as well as leading a “Free, Free Palestine” chant during their performance. They also pointed out that the Irish are no longer oppressed by the British, but we have never experienced bombings under the sky with nowhere to escape, just like what is happening in Palestine.

Over the past few years, the Sonora Tent, which is the smallest onsite, has been adopted by the more punk-oriented artists performing. During weekend one, Kneecap’s late afternoon set was quite popular, with a queue extending out the door. The tent was packed and electric, mirroring the explosive atmosphere of early Odd Future concerts.

During the first weekend, the band performed under dim lighting, making their faces indistinguishable. Their emblem, two piercing eyes, remained visible on the screen all through. The Sonora tent was completely sealed off, giving a club-like concert atmosphere rather than a festival stage setting. Throughout the first week, the group briefly referred to Palestine, but these mentions were more of a common political statement than one filled with hatred. They managed to stir up the crowd with it, yet it never dominated their performance.

On Sunday, the nonprofit organization Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), which includes professionals from the entertainment industry, publicized a statement outlining their attempts to contact Goldenvoice and AEG prior to Kneecap’s week 2 performance. The CCFP requested that the organizers cancel the show, citing Kneecap’s past backing of organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Ari Ingel, CCFP’s executive director, urged venues and promoters to refuse to host the band and also advocated for the revocation of their visas.

Coachella-style events are intended to unite people through music and joy, but unfortunately, they became a place for spreading hatred. Specifically, a band was promoted who endorsed a terrorist organization responsible for the deadliest attack in music history. In light of the alarming rise in antisemitism, it’s shocking that AEG and Goldenvoice allowed such an incident to take place,” Ingel stated emphatically.

The Nova Community also issued a statement, which read, in part:

Over the weekend at Coachella, the band Kneecap made statements that deeply hurt many in our community. This hurt is amplified given the tragedy that occurred at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th. The Nova festival stands for peace, freedom, and unity through music, a place where people from diverse cultures and beliefs came together to celebrate life. In such moments of ignorance or provocation, we must respond with empathy rather than hate. We extend an invitation to Kneecap members to visit the Nova Exhibition, not to shame or silence, but to connect, witness, and understand. This is about healing through listening. We believe that even those who spoke from a place of anger or misunderstanding are capable of empathy – if they are open to seeing.

The member of a music group has gained fame not only in the music industry but also in films. This trio shared screen time with Michael Fassbender and played themselves in a lighthearted biopic titled “Kneecap,” which Variety referred to as a “witty Irish rap comedy.” This “unconventional origin story” had its premiere at Sundance in 2024, marking the festival’s first Irish-language film and set in the Gaeltacht, or Irish-speaking district of West Belfast – the movie is based on events that occurred in 2019. “Kneecap” was nominated for two Oscars: best international feature and best original song for “Sick in the Head.” Following its Sundance debut, “Kneecap” won four out of ten technical categories at the British Independent Film Awards and was nominated for five BAFTAs, winning outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer for writer-director Rich Peppiatt.

Read More

2025-04-21 00:24