The Belfast band is waist-deep in a war of words over statements they are reported to have made about local MPs, Hamas and Hezbollah.
They said they “have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah” and “reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual”.
Kneecap says their comments have been distorted (Photo: Joseph Okpako/WireImage/Getty)
The comments are alleged to have come from footage of a November 2023 gig.
A second piece of video footage from November 2024 is also being examined by the police, in which a band member appeared to be shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a performance in Kentish Town, London.
The force said it has also been “made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023”.
“Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah.
“It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.
“An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.
Sir David Amess was murdered at his constituency surgery in 2021 (Photo: Chris McAndrew/PA)
What has the response to their comments been?
In response to their alleged comments, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for Kneecap to be banned.
“It glorifies terrorism, it has called for MPs, politicians, to be killed.”
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “We completely reject in the strongest possible terms the comments that they’ve made, particularly in relation to MPs and intimidation as well as obviously the situation in the Middle East.
The group has apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox as part of its statement this week.
The trio said: “To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.
“This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs.”
She said: “It was absurd – that’s not an apology. It’s deflection. It is not taking accountability – it’s making excuses.
While Brendan Cox, Ms Cox’s widower, told BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback: “It’s fine to say that you’re sorry for it, but the way that they have actually spoken about it is to suggest that it’s a conspiracy, that they have been targeted unfairly, and for me, that then doesn’t come across as unfortunately particularly genuine.”
Asked if the band should still perform at Glastonbury in June, Ms Cooper told Times Radio: “That’s a matter for the organisers.
“It’s dangerous and irresponsible to say these sorts of things, and I hope that everybody involved – not just the band but also those involved surrounding them and those involved in events – also take some responsibility on this and look very seriously at the consequences of these kinds of remarks, not just what’s been said.”
Kneecap performing at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this year (Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty)They will no longer be playing at the Eden Project in Cornwall on 4 July this year.
“Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded.”
A ticket site for the performances in Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne stated the summer shows were no longer going ahead.
What are Kneecap’s past controversies?
Kneecap are no strangers to controversy.
Their name stems from the term for a paramilitary punishment used during The Trouble in Northern Ireland.
Rapping in a mix of English and Irish, the track was banned from Irish broadcaster RTÉ for a reference to drug-taking.
Finally, at the Coachella Festival in the US this month, they were criticised for comments displayed on the big screen that read: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.”
Kneecap has said: “Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain.
“The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power.”
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