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The Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap has released a statement addressing growing backlash related to a recently resurfaced video of purported comments made during their performance.
On April 28, the Metropolitan Police in London announced that they are reviewing footage where band members allegedly urged violence against British Members of Parliament (MPs).
The clip, recorded at a concert in November 2023, appears to feature a band member stating: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP,” during a time when the Conservative Party held a significant parliamentary majority.
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This scrutiny follows a separate video that surfaced last week, showing the band expressing support for Hamas and Hezbollah, both classified as terrorist organizations by the U.K. authorities. Inviting support for these groups may lead to legal issues under the Terrorism Act 2000.
On April 27, a representative from Metropolitan Police informed the public that they became aware of these videos on April 22. They are currently analyzing the footage to determine if further investigation is warranted. As of yet, the group has not faced any charges.
In response to the controversy, David Taylor, a Labour MP, and John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, have called publicly for Kneecap’s removal from several major summer music festivals, including Glastonbury and TRNSMT in Glasgow.
The trio, composed of rappers Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and beat-maker JJ Ó Dochartaigh, took to their Instagram to address these accusations concerning sympathies with terrorism and promoting violence.
They asserted, “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual.”
The band further stated, “An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponized, as if it were a call to action.”
In their message, Kneecap expressed their condolences to the families of Labour MP Jo Cox and Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who both tragically lost their lives to violence. They stated, “To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies; we never intended to cause you hurt.”
Kneecap reiterated their core message of unity and hope, emphasizing their aim of fostering inclusivity through their music. They concluded, “No smear campaign will change that.”
The latest statement follows turmoil after their performances at Coachella, where they displayed a controversial message regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On April 25, it was also disclosed that the band had parted ways with their U.S. booking agency, IAG, with ongoing discussions about the potential revocation of their U.S. work visas as they prepare for an upcoming North American tour in October.
KNEECAP STATEMENT:
They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide.
Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral… pic.twitter.com/qZht5532Zf
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 28, 2025
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