Why on earth hasn’t Glastonbury Festival cancelled Kneecap’s appearance at this year’s event. Since surely hate-mongering is complete anathema to the festival’s peace and love credentials. Organisers can’t have escaped Kneecap’s back catalogue. Including a video from a 2023 performance appearing to show a member of the group saying “the only good Tory is a dead Tory” and “kill your local MP”. Sentiments which have been widely condemned by the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. Along with anyone with a grain of humanity and an aversion to inciting hatred.
Meanwhile footage from a 2024 performance appears to show a band member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” while draped in a Hezbollah flag. Both groups are designated as terrorist organisations in the UK. For the record it was at the Nova music festival in Israel, a place of peace and inclusivity supposedly akin to Glastonbury, that 400 people were slaughtered by Hamas. The West Belfast band have since said, oh, sorry. But it’s a tactical apology, salted with crocodile tears and flavoured with self-interest .
For Kneecap’s miserable response to the mounting criticism has been to suggest some kind of conspiracy. In a statement, the rap band said they rejected “any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever.”
They state instead that “an extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action”. If someone could explain how “kill your MP” ever has a responsible context then I’m all ears.
As such their regret doesn’t wash for a second. The band are a classic case of idiocy meeting influence – using their platform to pedal messages which far exceed artistic expression or constructive political criticism.
That’s why it is dangerous and irresponsible to allow them to squeak a note in front of the millions who will be watching at Glastonbury – who knows what they might say?
Given the group are now under investigation for potentially inciting violence and expressing support for terrorist organisations how does that marry with the festival’s commitment to inclusivity and safety?
The Eden Sessions festival in Cornwall has already – commendably – cancelled Kneecap’s performance, recognising the responsibility they have. But Glastonbury continues to take a spineless stance.
And don’t be beguiled that what Kneecap may have done remains firmly rooted in the past. Only recently the trio ended an appearance at Californian music festival Coachella with projections of aggressive anti-Israel messages.
A move which led Sharon Osbourne to declare “this band openly support terrorist organisations” and advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.
Amongst the messages was the vastly discredited view that “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people”. In fact Hamas committed genocide during their October 7 attack in which over 1,200 were slaughtered.
If Kneecap want to lead a chant then surely it should be “Free Palestine from Hamas”. This is not a battle of Israel’s choosing and it has no desire to wage war on the innocent people of Gaza.
But hey, the devil is to turn away from the detail leaving ignorance to fuel antisemitism. How can Glastonbury be sure what Kneecap will or won’t say?
Perhaps the festival’s left-wing orthodoxy is to blame for their lack of action. At last year’s festival there were prominent displays of anti-Israel slogans. Organisers were also said to have permitted a “Palestine” stall selling badges depicting Israel being replaced entirely by the Palestinian flag.
This was in sharp contrast to the absence of any major official tributes to the hundreds murdered and raped by Hamas at Nova.
Regardless of whether it’s by default or design, Glastonbury’s current stance gives succour to Kneecap. The group needs to be silenced. Jettisoning them from the bill is the only kind of loud message we need to hear.
