Coachella organisers have been “blindsided” by Kneecap’s pro-Palestinian messages
The organisers of Coachella 2025 have been reportedly “blindsided” by Kneecap’s pro-Palestinian messages and chants on the pageant.
The Irish rap trio made headlines with their performances on the Sonora Stage at each weekends of the California pageant.
First time round, the reside stream of their set was lower after they voiced their assist for a free Palestine, and in addition led the group in a provocative anti-Margaret Thatcher chant. “Not solely was that lower,” they later stated, referring to the Thatcher chorus, “our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza someway by no means appeared on screens both.”
On the second weekend, the band offered their very own livestream, with political commentator Hasan Piker broadcasting their set reside on Twitch. Slogans together with “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine”, “Israel is committing genocide towards the Palestinian individuals” and “It’s being enabled by the US authorities who arm and fund Israel regardless of their struggle crimes” have been projected on the display behind them as they performed.
Some uncensored messaging to Coachella 🤝🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/WbHZBrCZl5
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 19, 2025
Throughout their second set, Mo Chara delivered a quick speech, telling the group: “The Irish not so way back have been persecuted by the hands of the Brits, however we have been by no means bombed from the fucking skies with nowhere to go.
“The Palestinians have nowhere to go, it’s their fucking dwelling they usually’re bombing them from the skies,” he added. “Should you’re not calling it a genocide what the fuck are you calling it?” The band then led a “Free, Free Palestine” chant.
In a brand new report from The Hollywood Reporter, Paul Tollett, the CEO of pageant organiser Goldenvoice was stated to have been “blindsided” by Kneecap’s antics, after Jewish teams known as them out for offering a platform for the messaging.
Kneecap’s long-standing assist of Palestine has seen them loudly broadcast their message by way of social media and high-profile TV appearances. Of their Cowl function for NME final yr, they made their stance towards what they name Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Gaza clear, and went on to assist elevate almost £100,000 for a volunteer fitness center within the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine.
Extra lately, they hit out at Israel for breaking the Gaza ceasefire in a “slaughter” towards the “most susceptible individuals on earth”. It adopted the ‘Higher Means To Dwell’ artists slamming the Prime Minister of Eire, calling Micheál Martin a “lick-arse” and “scumbag” after his latest go to to the White Home to satisfy US President Donald Trump.
Again in January, when their movie was omitted of the Oscar nominations in January regardless of having been longlisted, the band responded by tweeting: “Fuck the Oscars. Free Palestine.”
Their response was according to their response to the information of a ceasefire in Gaza on January 16, the place they posted “we should not neglect what Israel has executed”.