Recommendations of the editorial team
The Irish Rap Group Kneecap does not take a leaf out of the mouth. At their most recent concert at the Coachella Festival in California, they stepped directly into the spotlight of a highly emotional political discussion – and into the line of fires in prominent critics: inside like Sharon Osbourne. While many acts at festivals are limited to safe, mass-compatible topics, Kneecap decided to provide their performance with pro-Palestinian messages.
The reactions to the show were not long in coming-among others by Sharon Osbourne, who attacked the band publicly and called for X (formerly Twitter) to withdraw the US visa to the musicians. She accused them of spreading “hate speeches” and “openly supporting terrorist organizations”. To read again here.
KNEECAP demand: “Ended the genocide”
Mo Chara von Kneecap was not impressed by the criticism – and countered with a musical reference to Sharon Osbourne’s husband Ozzy Osbourne. In an email to the US “Rolling Stone”, he said: “Your tirade is so incomplete that she is hardly worthy. But she should listen to Black Sabbath (her husband).”
The organizers of the Nova Music Festival-the place of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023-also spoke up. They invited Kneecap to Nova Exhibition to personally hear the stories of the victims, survivors and hostages. So far, there has been no answer to the invitation.
Instead, Mo Chara emphasized against the US “Rolling Stone”: “While we are talking here, over 10,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons are recorded as hostages. Many of them without any indictment or legal proceedings. Including 400 children who have been illegally imprisoned according to international law. The 30,000 innocent children who have been murdered in Gaza in the past 18 months?
Mo Chara: “This happens at all of our concerts”
What Sharon Osbourne bothered is the band’s appearance at the second festival weekend of the Coachella. The following messages appeared on the stage: “Israel commits genocide on the Palestinian people” and “This is made possible by the US government, which is armed and financed by Israel despite its war crimes” and “Fuck Israel. Free Palestine.”
The audience reacted with loud “Free Palestine” speaking-according to Kneecap, a recurring phenomenon on their shows: “This happens to all of our concerts. From Spain to Scotland and Ireland to Iceland. Because people know that what happens there is wrong and angry about it,” said Mo Chara about the US “Rolling Stone”. “The amount that chanted at Coachella ‘Free Palestine’ was a message of solidarity with the people in Gaza of normal Americans who want an end to the genocide. Despite the armament and financing of Israel by their government.”
“We have been talking about Palestine since our foundation”
In an email, band member Mo Chara also made it clear that her attitude was by no means new or a short-term PR stunt: “We have spoken about Palestine since the foundation of the band. Long before October 2023, since Palestinas’ oppression and brutal occupation has lasted for 77 years.”
The fact that they used their platform at the US festival was a conscious decision for the trio from Belfast. Because, according to Mo Chara: “We believe that we have the duty to use our platform to draw attention to the topic of Palestine. And it was important to us to express ourselves at the coachella. Because the United States is the most important donor and arms supplier of Israel, while this is committed in Gaza.
As I said on stage: ‘The US government could end the genocide tomorrow.’ It is important that young Americans hear and know. “
For KNEECAP, it is more than just an opinion – they see themselves as a mouthpiece for those who, in their opinion, would be ignored in global discourse. Her concerts are political, yes – but never directed against a people: “People can decide for themselves whether our message is anti -Israeli. But for us it is about the disgusting actions of their government. Not about normal people.”
According to Mo Chara, the band does not want to missionary, we want to raise awareness: “We want people to do everything in their power to stop the genocide. People can take what they want. It is more important to stop the genocide.”
Last but not least, the band Blonde Redhead with a Pali cloth, flag and activist audio recording appeared on the coachella.