Kneecap’s Coachella Performance Sparks Outrage with Anti-Israel Messages

INDIO, California – Irish hip-hop group Kneecap drew headlines during their weekend two performance at Coachella on April 18, but not for the reasons typically associated with a rising band. Instead, the group’s set featured large screens displaying references to genocide, and anti-Israel messages alongside calls for a ‘free Palestine,’ igniting backlash from Jewish organizations.

While political statements are not uncommon at Coachella, Kneecap’s explicit calls such as ‘Fuck Israel’ provoked outcry, leading Jewish groups to condemn the festival’s promoter Goldenvoice for booking the band, which has ties to controversial ideologies linked to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Following their performance, Kneecap furthered their message on social media, urging young Americans to share the footage with President Trump.

According to insiders close to Goldenvoice, CEO Paul Tollett was reportedly ‘blindsided’ by the group’s provocative actions during the festival. “Paul is a good man and has been an outspoken advocate on behalf of survivors of the Nova Music Festival,” said Scooter Braun, highlighting Tollett’s work with survivors of the October 7 attacks in Israel.

The Sonora tent, where Kneecap performed, did not livestream its weekend two acts, a choice some suggest was made to avoid the broadcast of controversial material. In contrast, their weekend one performance ended abruptly before its conclusion, failing to capture the political elements of their show.

Formed in Belfast in 2017, Kneecap consists of vocalists Mo Chara and Móglai Bap, alongside DJ Próvaí. They are entrenched in Irish Republicanism, advocating for the reunification of Ireland. The group gained significant attention with their debut single ‘C.E.A.R.T.A.,’ and their recent album ‘Fine Art‘ released in 2024 further showcases their political stance.

A week prior to their second performance, the band alleged censorship from festival organizers regarding their pro-Palestine statements. “Back next Friday Coachella and it’ll be sorted,” Kneecap tweeted, accompanied by an emoji of the Palestinian flag. However, during their subsequent set, they escalated their messaging with a chant of ‘free, free Palestine’ and asserted, ‘the Irish are not persecuted under the Brits, but we were never bombed under the fucking skies with nowhere to go.’

The festival environment at the Sonora tent encourages punk rock artists, creating a vibrant atmosphere that attracted a large audience during Kneecap’s performance. The group obscured their faces with minimal lighting while their logo of intense eyes flickered across the screens.

The Creative Community for Peace, a nonprofit of entertainment industry professionals, released a statement urging Goldenvoice to reconsider Kneecap’s participation in the festival due to previous statements supporting groups linked to terrorism. Executive Director Ari Ingel criticized the festival, stating, “Festivals such as Coachella are meant to bring people together… instead they devolved into a forum of hate.”

The Nova Community also expressed their hurt over Kneecap’s performance, especially in light of the recent tragedies connected to the Nova Music Festival. They emphasized the importance of empathy and understanding over anger, inviting Kneecap to visit the Nova Exhibition and learn about the stories of victims and survivors from the attacks.

Kneecap’s footprint extends beyond music; they starred in a biopic that premiered at Sundance, becoming the first Irish-language film to receive Oscar nominations. Their cultural influence continues to grow, but their political messages have sparked significant controversy, with ongoing fallout from their Coachella performance reverberating through both entertainment and community conversations.