Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap faced backlash for their pro-Palestinian stance during their Coachella set earlier this month, where they displayed a screen reading “F— Israel, Free Palestine.” The group characterized the criticism as a “coordinated smear campaign,” asserting that festival organizers censored their performance’s livestream. Although their performance was not broadcast, images of their message circulated online, triggering outrage.
Tribe of Nova, the organizers of Israel’s Nova Music Festival—where Hamas launched a deadly attack on October 7, resulting in 1,200 fatalities—condemned Kneecap’s messaging and extended an invitation to the band to engage with survivors and relatives of victims. In response to the backlash, Kneecap stated on X that their critics aimed to silence opposition to what they described as “mass slaughter,” accusing them of using antisemitism allegations to obscure the ongoing violence.
The group emphasized that their concerns transcended religious beliefs, highlighting that many Jewish individuals share their outrage over the conflict. Kneecap reiterated their commitment to speaking out against governments facilitating violence, insisting they would not remain silent.
Critics, including TV personality Sharon Osbourne, labeled Kneecap’s statements as hate speech and urged the U.S. to revoke their work visas. Osbourne argued that while artistry should unite, Kneecap’s aggressive political messages crossed a line. She expressed disappointment in Goldenvoice, the festival organizers, for allowing the band to perform again. Despite the controversy, Kneecap continued to voice solidarity with the Palestinian cause in their subsequent performance, leading the audience in chants and drawing parallels between their own historical struggles and those faced by Palestinians.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 50,000 reported deaths since the onset of hostilities, further fueling the debate around art and activism.
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