Kneecap have defended their controversial past concerts, arguing that it is not their job to “tell people what’s a joke and what’s not”.
The Irish language rap trio have been at the centre of a storm in recent months, stemming from their defiant pro-Palestinian remarks at Coachella in April. Since then, two videos have emerged – one allegedly showing them displaying a Hezbollah flag at a show last November, and another of them making contentious remarks about members of parliament on stage.
For the former, band member Mo Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – has been charged with a terror offence, for which he appeared in court last week and was released on unconditional bail.
The band are set to play a much-anticipated show on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury 2025 at 4pm on Saturday (June 28).
"If you believe that what a satirical band who play characters on stage do is more outrageous than the murdering of innocent Palestinians, then you need to give your head a fucking wobble.”
We did a wee feature interview ahead of Glastonbury with the Guardian……
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) June 27, 2025
Ahead of that performance, the band have given an interview to The Guardian, in which Mo Chara addresses the Hezbollah flag incident directly. “It’s a joke. I’m a character,” he said. “Shit is thrown on stage all the time. If I’m supposed to know every fucking thing that’s thrown on stage, I’d be in Mensa, Jesus Christ.”
“I don’t know every proscribed organisation – I’ve got enough shit to worry about up there. I’m thinking about my next lyric, my next joke, the next drop of a beat,” he added.
Asked about whether he regrets the comments about MPs, he said: “Why should I regret it? It was a joke – we’re playing characters, it’s satirical, it’s a fucking joke. And that’s not the point. The point is, that wasn’t an issue until we said ‘Free Palestine’ at Coachella. That stuff happened 18 months ago, and nobody batted an eyelid.”
Kneecap is not the story.
Genocide in Gaza is. pic.twitter.com/p4bWdyTG91
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) June 26, 2025
“Everybody agreed it was a fucking joke, even people that may have been in the room that didn’t agree – it’s a laugh, we’re all having a bit of craic. The point is, and the context is, it all [resurfaced] because of Coachella. That’s what we should be questioning, not whether I regret things.”
Mo Chara also discussed the fact that the band’s US visas have since been revoked due to the controversy. “Maybe visas get revoked, you’re not allowed in America again, it’s not ideal – but Jesus Christ, there’s people being bombed from the fucking skies, and people being starved to death,” he said. “We’re in the process [of applying for new visas], hopefully it works. But if it doesn’t, I can go about my day without having to worry about my next meal or my family being bombed. Visa revoked, I can get over.”
“If you believe that what a satirical band who play characters on stage do is more outrageous than the murdering of innocent Palestinians, then you need to give your head a fucking wobble,” he added.
A number of MPs, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have spoken out against Kneecap’s Glastonbury appearance this weekend, but festival co-organiser Emily Eavis said earlier this week that “everyone is welcome” in response to the calls. Her father, the festival’s founder Michael Eavis, has said: “People that don’t agree with the politics of the event can go somewhere else!”
Meanwhile, the BBC has said it will continue with its planned coverage of the band’s set at West Holts, although it may be edited to coincide with editorial guidelines.
On Thursday, the band shared a video reaffirming their pro-Palestine stance, asserting that “Kneecap is not the story. Genocide in Gaza is.” They also released a new single, ‘The Recap’, earlier this week.
Check back at NME here for the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos and more from Glastonbury 2025.
English (US) · 