The Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap faced backlash for their pro-Palestinian messaging during their Coachella performance, which included an onstage display reading “F— Israel, Free Palestine.” In response to criticism, they labeled the backlash a “coordinated smear campaign,” asserting that it aimed to silence their views on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The group claimed that organizers censored their livestream after the first weekend’s performance, although images of their message circulated widely online, triggering outrage.
Tribe of Nova, the organizers of Israel’s Nova Music Festival, expressed that Kneecap’s statements “deeply hurt many in our community,” given the deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties. They invited the band to witness the stories of victims directly. Kneecap countered by stating that those criticizing them were attempting to distract from what they termed “mass slaughter,” and emphasized their commitment to discussing the atrocities linked to governmental actions in various countries.
Notable critics included Sharon Osbourne, who accused Kneecap of hate speech and called for the revocation of their U.S. work visas. She remarked that music should be a unifying force rather than a platform for political polarization. During their second performance, Kneecap led a “free Palestine” chant and drew parallels between the Irish plight and Palestinian suffering, stating, “The Palestinians have nowhere to go.” Since the onset of recent violence, over 50,000 people are reported to have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. As of now, the festival’s organizers, Goldenvoice, have not publicly addressed the controversy.
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