Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap under fire for British MP and anti-Israel comments
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap has found themselves in hot water once again, this time for a controversial performance in which a band member appeared to say “Kill your local MP.” The footage, which surfaced from a London concert, showed the member saying, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” This statement has sparked outrage, particularly in light of the recent killings of British MPs David Amess and Jo Cox.
In response to the backlash, Kneecap issued an apology to the families of Amess and Cox, expressing regret for any hurt caused. However, the apology has been met with criticism from several lawmakers and individuals close to the deceased MPs. Yvette Cooper, the interior minister, stated that the comments were dangerous, especially given the recent history of MP killings.
The group’s apology was part of a larger statement in which they denounced what they called a “smear campaign” against them. They claimed that the footage was taken out of context and accused establishment figures of trying to silence them. However, many have found the apology to be insincere and lacking in genuine remorse.
In addition to the controversy surrounding their comments about MPs, Kneecap faced backlash for their performance at Coachella earlier this month, where they displayed pro-Palestinian messages that ended with “F–k Israel. Free Palestine.” This led to their booking agency dropping them and organizers of a German festival removing them from the lineup.
Despite the backlash, Kneecap remains scheduled to perform at Glastonbury Festival in June and has upcoming shows in North America, including sold-out dates in Toronto and Vancouver. However, there are calls for authorities in the U.S. and Canada to deny entry to the group due to ongoing counter-terrorism investigations.
This is not the first time Kneecap has courted controversy, having previously won a case against the government to retain an arts grant. The group has pledged to donate the proceeds to charities that support at-risk youth. As the group navigates these controversies, their future in the music industry remains uncertain.
