Kneecap shocked precisely as anticipated at a raucous Glastonbury set on Saturday.
The Irish rap trio has drawn widespread criticism in latest months, with one of many members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, charged with a terror offence final month. Glastonbury companion, the BBC, stood by their determination to air their set, regardless of U.Ok. tradition secretary Lisa Nandy’s feedback that the band “thrive on the oxygen of publicity.” Nandy stated Thursday: “Personally, I don’t need to see that on TV screens.”
On Saturday afternoon at Glastonbury’s West Holts stage, which was fenced off as they got here on as a consequence of overcrowding, Ó hAnnaidh instructed the 30,000-person crowd: “Glastonbury, I’m a free man!” Clips of newsreaders saying his terror cost performed earlier than the band got here on, in addition to pro-Palestine messages and movies of varied U.Ok. politicians criticizing the choice to have the band play on the pageant.
“The quantity of Palestinian flags I can see is insane,” Ó hAnnaidh additionally stated. “The BBC editor goes to have some job.”
The band members continued, discussing Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis and his daughter, who now runs the pageant, Emily: “An enormous thanks to the Eavis household. The stress that that household was below they usually stood robust,” they stated of being allowed to carry out, “Honest play to them.”
“The prime minister of your nation didn’t need us to play… So fuck Keir Starmer!” The band repeated this sentiment lots over the course of the one-hour set, getting the viewers to chant it again to them. Re-emphasizing their pro-Palestine views, Kneecap was vital of the British and U.S. governments and the U.S. media.
In Could, the Met Police stated it might examine after on-line movies confirmed the band calling for the demise of British parliament ministers, in addition to chanting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah.” It’s unlawful within the U.Ok. to precise help for Hezbollah, a Shia Muslim political and army group in Lebanon, as it’s thought-about a terrorist group in Britain.
Kneecap, which additionally consists of members Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, stated the video in query has been taken out of context and that they’ve by no means supported Hamas or Hezbollah. Ó hAnnaidh is due in a London courtroom in late August.
The trio, stars of Wealthy Peppiatt’s “print the legend” biopic, have additionally raised eyebrows for expressing their pro-Palestine views on stage. After information of Ó hAnnaidh’s cost, the band took to defend themselves. “That is political policing. This can be a carnival of distraction. 14,000 infants are about to die of hunger in Gaza, with meals despatched by the world sitting on the opposite facet of a wall, and as soon as once more, the British institution is concentrated on us.”
Final yr, the film Kneecap, additionally starring Michael Fassbender, dominated movie headlines. Director Peppiatt made BAFTA historical past by tying the file for nominations for a debut filmmaker with six. He gained one BAFTA — specifically for excellent debut by a British author, director, or producer — serving as each author and director of the movie.
However the group’s political beliefs have gotten them into scorching water. In April, they displayed messages in regards to the ongoing conflict in Gaza throughout their Coachella set, resulting in the cancellation of their concert events in Germany. Later, they parted methods with their reserving company Impartial Artist Group, sources verify to The Hollywood Reporter.
Glastonbury Pageant runs from June 25-29.