The organisers of Coachella 2025 had been reportedly “blindsided” by Kneecap’s pro-Palestinian messages and chants on the competition.
The Irish rap trio made headlines with their performances on the Sonora Stage at each weekends of the California competition.
First time round, the reside stream of their set was reduce after they voiced their help for a free Palestine, and likewise led the gang in a provocative anti-Margaret Thatcher chant. “Not solely was that reduce,” they later mentioned, referring to the Thatcher chorus, “our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza one way or the other by no means appeared on screens both.”
On the second weekend, the band supplied their very own livestream, with political commentator Hasan Piker broadcasting their set reside on Twitch. Slogans together with “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine”, “Israel is committing genocide towards the Palestinian folks” and “It’s being enabled by the US authorities who arm and fund Israel regardless of their struggle crimes” had been projected on the display screen behind them as they performed.
Some uncensored messaging to Coachella 🤝🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/WbHZBrCZl5
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 19, 2025
Throughout their second set, Mo Chara delivered a quick speech, telling the gang: “The Irish not so way back had been persecuted by the hands of the Brits, however we had been by no means bombed from the fucking skies with nowhere to go.
“The Palestinians have nowhere to go, it’s their fucking residence and so they’re bombing them from the skies,” he added. “For those who’re not calling it a genocide what the fuck are you calling it?” The band then led a “Free, Free Palestine” chant.
In a brand new report from The Hollywood Reporter, Paul Tollett, the CEO of competition organiser Goldenvoice was mentioned to have been “blindsided” by Kneecap’s antics, after Jewish teams referred to as them out for offering a platform for the messaging.
Kneecap’s long-standing help of Palestine has seen them loudly broadcast their message by way of social media and high-profile TV appearances. Of their Cowl characteristic for NME final yr, they made their stance towards what they name Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Gaza clear, and went on to assist elevate practically £100,000 for a volunteer health club within the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine.
Extra lately, they hit out at Israel for breaking the Gaza ceasefire in a “slaughter” towards the “most susceptible folks on earth”. It adopted the ‘Higher Approach To Dwell’ artists slamming the Prime Minister of Eire, calling Micheál Martin a “lick-arse” and “scumbag” after his latest go to to the White Home to fulfill US President Donald Trump.
Again in January, when their movie was ignored of the Oscar nominations in January regardless of having been longlisted, the band responded by tweeting: “Fuck the Oscars. Free Palestine.”
Their response was according to their response to the information of a ceasefire in Gaza on January 16, the place they posted “we should not overlook what Israel has completed”.