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Irish hip-hop group Kneecap has raised concerns that their pro-Palestine message shared during their recent Coachella performance was not included in the festival’s livestream.
Following their debut at the prominent festival, NME reported that Kneecap’s livestream was interrupted after the band led an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant. The group later retweeted the article and expressed that their expression of solidarity with the Palestinian cause was also omitted.
“Not the only thing that was cut – our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either,” they remarked on X, previously known as Twitter. They added gratitude for the support from their audience during the performance and hinted at a resolution for their upcoming show next Friday at Coachella.
The band followed up with a video clip showcasing their closing track “H.O.O.D.”, during which they exclaimed, “Free Palestine and free the six countries,” the latter referring to the call for Northern Ireland’s reunification with the Republic of Ireland.
Earlier in the performance, member Mo Chara addressed the audience with a pointed remark about Thatcher, stating, “Here, if anybody was wondering, Margaret Thatcher’s still dead,” before engaging the crowd in a chant of “Maggie’s in a box.” Kneecap has a history of vocal opposition to Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, and has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights, frequently discussing the issue in various media outlets.
At the BAFTA Awards earlier this year, director Rich Peppiatt, recognized for his work on the band’s quasi-biopic film Kneecap, used his acceptance speech for Outstanding British Debut to honor those striving for recognition and respect for their homelands. “Everyone should have their language respected, their culture respected. This award is dedicated to everyone out there who’s fighting that fight,” he asserted.
Other performers at Coachella, including Green Day, referenced Palestine, but their livestreams remained uninterrupted. Notably, Green Day altered a line in their song “Jesus Of Suburbia” on Saturday to include a mention of Palestinian youth, reflecting a wider trend among artists to address political issues within their performances.
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Kneecap is scheduled to perform again at Coachella on Friday night, following performances in Denver and Salt Lake City. The band is also preparing for a North American tour in October, which includes stops in cities such as Louisville, Nashville, New York, Boston, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver, and San Francisco.
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www.rollingstone.com