The BBC has ignored calls not to broadcast Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury Festivaldespite a member of the group being charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah. The corporation insists it doesn’t ban artists, and the broadcast will meet its editorial guidelines. One option is said to involve broadcasting the gig on iPlayer after the live performance, allowing the BBC to check any language or images which could be in breach of the guidelines.
Rap trio Kneecap are due to take to the West Holts stage at 4pm on Saturday (June 28), just over a week after one of their members appeared in court. Senior politicians have criticised their planned appearance at the popular music festival. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh was in court last week after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror group Hezbollah while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig in November last year.
The band was also criticised after footage of a November 2023 concert allegedly showed a member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he doesn’t think it “appropriate” for Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she thought the BBC “should not be showing” Kneecap’s performance.
Shadow Culture Secretary Stuart Andrew said: “It is deeply troubling that the BBC, a publicly funded institution with a responsibility to uphold ethical broadcasting standards, would choose to platform a band that has a leading member facing a terror charge.
“Giving Kneecap visibility, whether live or on iPlayer, is simply not acceptable and directly betrays the BBC’s mandate. They must urgently think again.”
The BBC said in a statement: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
“Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.”
O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, along with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap), and JJ O Dochartaigh (DJ Provai), said the controversies are a distraction from what is happening to Palestinians.
The bandmates said they would be happy to lose income and clout in order to be “on the right side of history”, adding they hoped “being vocal and being unafraid” would encourage other bands to speak up about Palestine.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper ahead of Glastonbury, O hAnnaidh defended their performances as “satirical”.
He claimed: “It’s a joke. I’m a character. S*** is thrown on stage all the time. If I’m supposed to know every f****** thing that’s thrown on stage, I’d be in Mensa.
“I don’t know every proscribed organisation – I’ve got enough s*** to worry about up there. I’m thinking about my next lyric, my next joke, the next drop of a beat.”
Asked about the “dead Tory” comments, he said it was “a joke” and the band were “playing characters”. He added: “It’s satirical, it’s a f****** joke. And that’s not the point.
“The point is, that (video) wasn’t an issue until we said ‘Free Palestine’ at Coachella. That stuff happened 18 months ago, and nobody batted an eyelid.
“Everybody agreed it was a f****** 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.”