Irish Rap Trio Draws Backlash for Anti-Israel Messages at Coachella

"Kneecap" has previously stirred controversy for posting pro-terror content and waving Hezbollah flags at a concert

Irish rap trio Kneecap sparked controversy at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday by incorporating anti-Israel messaging into their performance. During their set, the group chanted "Free Palestine" and prominently displayed political slogans referencing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, inaccurately accusing Israel of “genocide.”

While Kneecap is known for their provocative and politically charged style, their decision to use the Coachella stage for political expression has drawn criticism from those who believe music festivals should remain apolitical spaces focused on art and entertainment.

The timing of Kneecap’s display has also been condemned, particularly in light of the October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel, where hundreds of civilians were killed by Hamas during an attack on the Nova Music Festival. That tragedy has left a deep scar on the global music community, making politically charged statements at festivals, particularly those linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, especially sensitive.

This sentiment was echoed by journalist Emily Schrader, who criticized the group’s timing and message, stating: "Imagine going to a music festival and saying something stupid like this when on October 7, Hamas, accompanied by thousands of Palestinian ‘civilians,’ literally attacked a music festival and raped and murdered a bunch of young people dancing, while taking others hostage."

Ari Ingel, Executive Director of the Creative Community for Peace (CCFP), publicly condemned the group's appearance. On social media, he wrote:

"Goldenvoice and AEG were alerted ahead of time that they were platforming a hate group who openly supports Hezbollah and Hamas.
They didn’t care. They clearly aligned with their messaging and allowed their music festival to become a forum of hate."

Credit: Ari Ingel on X

Further scrutiny has arisen over Kneecap's previous actions and statements. On February 23, 2025, the group posted an image of a member reading Voice of Hezbollah: The Statements of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a book that compiles the speeches of Hezbollah's former leader. Nasrallah, who led the U.S.-designated terrorist group for decades, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in September 2024.

Credit: Kneecap on X

Additionally, at a November 21, 2024 concert in London, Kneecap members were seen waving a Hezbollah flag on stage, according to CCFP. The rap trio has also been accused of posting pro-Hamas messages on X, in particular a post in which Ken O’Keefe, who has been described as a “neo-Nazi,” justifies Hamas’ use of violence.

Joe Roberts, the former chair of JSpaceCanada who served as an executive in multiple Jewish nonprofits and federations, added: "The irony is almost too perfect: Coachella rages against colonizers’ while partying on land stolen from ethnically cleansed Indigenous people—attacking an Indigenous people who’ve actually reclaimed their native land."

Adding to the conversation surrounding festival safety and memory, a billboard was erected near the Coachella grounds last week with a bold message: “Imagine going to a music festival and not coming home.” The sign, by advocacy group JewBelong, is a reference to the Nova Festival massacre and serves as a stark reminder of the trauma still resonating in the music community.

Credit: Eye on Antisemitism on X

CCFP has previously called on the U.S. State Department to deny Kneecap entry into the country over their repeated expressions of support for terrorist organizations. According to the U.S. Department of State, endorsing or espousing terrorist activity or persuading others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization, whether designated or undesignated, renders an applicant ineligible for entry into the United States."