Kneecap controversy: The full story explained amid terror charge

Posted On May 22, 2025May 22, 2025

After being under investigation by the counter-terrorism police, Kneecap‘s Mo Chara has been charged with a terror offence and will appear in court next month.

Kneecap, comprised of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Provai, first garnered mainstream attention in April when they appeared at Coachella in California. During their second set of the festival, they made a series of pro-Palestinian statements amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, and also chanted about the death of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

In the wake of their 2025 Coachella performance, footage emerged on social media from historic Kneecap shows in recent years, which are now the subject of a police investigation due to comments made by band members.

Additionally, Sharon Osbourne called for Kneecap to be stripped of their US visas. Glastonbury Festival is also facing pressure from politicians from across the board who are urging them to reconsider booking the Belfast natives.

As it stands, Kneecap are still scheduled to tour the US later this year and perform at Worthy Farm on the West Holts Stage in June.

Coachella controversy

During their first set at Coachella during weekend one of the Californian festival on April 11th, Kneecap member Mo Chara told the audience, “If anybody was wondering, Margaret Thatcher’s still dead.” He then led them through a sing-along of “Maggie’s in a box” to the tune of ‘Give It Up’ by KC and The Sunshine Band. However, this was cut from the festival’s live-stream.

In response to the censorship, they wrote on social media: “Not the only thing that was cut – our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either. Back next Friday Coachella and it’ll be sorted.”

When Kneecap returned to Coachella on April 18th, they used the screen behind them on stage to make a series of pro-Palestine statements. The first message read: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.” The screen also showed, “It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes,” and lastly, it read, “Fuck Israel / Free Palestine.”

Sharon Osbourne leads backlash to Kneecap’s Coachella set

As a response to Kneecap’s political statement at Coachella, Sharon Osbourne took to X (Twitter) to condemn the band along with Goldenvoice, the company that organises Coachella, writing, “Coachella 2025 will be remembered as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity. Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression.”

Osbourne continued: “At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse. While festivals like Coachella showcase remarkable talent from around the globe, music’s primary purpose is to unite people. It should not be a venue for promoting terrorist organizations or spreading hate.”

She finished by pleading: “I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.”

Kneecap’s Mo Chara hit back at Osbourne, along with other dissenting voices regarding their Coachella set, by stating, “We have an obligation to use our platform when we can to raise the issue of Palestine, and it was important for us to speak out at Coachela as the USA is the main funder and supplier of weapons to Israel as they commit genocide in Gaza.”

He also encouraged Osbourne to listen to her husband’s band Black Sabbath’s anti-war anthem ‘War Pigs’, adding, “Her rant has so many holes in it that it hardly warrants a reply but she should listen to ‘War Pigs’ that was written by Black Sabbath (her husband).”

In an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored on May 1st, Osbourne reiterated her stance, stating, “It’s all insane that this should be allowed to continue where there are young people, drinking or doing whatever they want to do, it’s their business, but don’t try to incite violence with their fist, attitude. Their whole attitude is one of anger, it’s not of peace.”

The music manager then told Kneecap to take a leaf out of U2 frontman Bono’s book, adding, “They should follow the masters, who are U2, Bono goes on, he talks about Palestine. He does it in peace. He’s pro-Palestine, that’s his opinion Bono, god bless him, but he does it in such a way that it doesn’t incite violence from a crowd.”

Emergence of footage from Kneecap concerts

The first historic video to resurface on social media following Coachella is from Kneecap’s November 2024 concert at O2 Kentish Town Forum, London. In the clip, Mo Chara can be heard seemingly shouting, “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.” Both Hamas and Hezbollah are recognised as terrorist organisations in the UK.

This footage elicited complaints from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who previously intervened to stop Kneecap’s inclusion in the Music Export Growth Scheme. The West Belfast trio appealed the decision, and a court deemed that the British government discriminated against the group by stopping this funding. They split the £14,250 between the Catholic and Protestant communities in Belfast, donating £7,125 to Glór Na Móna in Ballymurphy and £7,125 to RCity Belfast on the Shankill Road.

Writing on X, Badenoch quoted the footage from the Kentish Town Forum and wrote, “In govt I blocked Kneecap getting taxpayer funding. Labour didn’t contest the legal case the band brought and they walked away with £14,250 of OUR money.”

A second video later emerged from a gig that is believed to have taken place in November 2023, in which they seemingly told the audience: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

The latter led to complaints from a number of politicians, as well as Katie Amess, the daughter of the late Conservative MP David Amess, who was murdered in 2021. Amess demanded an apology from Kneecap and said she was “gobsmacked at the stupidity of somebody or a group of people being in the public eye and saying such dangerous, violent rhetoric”.

Police investigation launched into Kneecap

In the wake of the resurfacing of the aforementioned videos on social media, an official investigation has been launched by counter-terrorism police. Regarding both events, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said: “We were made aware of a video on April 22nd, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.”

They added: “We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.”

The investigation has been celebrated by Badenoch, who said it was “good”. She added: “Kneecap’s glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society.” Badenoch also said the case “demands prosecution”.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelled the comments made in the video clips as “completely unacceptable” and “condemns them in the strongest possible terms”.

On May 1st, the Metropolitan Police provided a new update on the investigation. They said in a statement: “On April 22, we were made aware of an online video believed to be from a music event in London in November 2024. Following this, we were made aware of a further video, believed to be from another music event in London in November 2023. Both videos were referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offenses linked to both videos.”

“The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time,” the message continued.

On May 21st, it was confirmed by the Metropolitan Police that Mo Chara has been charged with a terror offence.

Politicians want Kneecap banned from Glastonbury and TRNSMT

On April 28th, the Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, David Taylor, wrote to Michael Eavis regarding Kneecap’s booking at Glastonbury in 2025. In the letter, he pleaded with the festival founder to remove the trio from this year’s line-up, claiming their involvement would be “undermining its proud tradition of promoting peace, unity and social responsibility”.

Taylor continued: “It would be deeply troubling to see the festival provide a platform to individuals who advocate hatred and violence, especially at a time when political and social tensions are already high.”

The elected official said the removal of Kneecap would “send a clear message that Glastonbury stands firmly against violence, terrorism, and political extremism”.

Scotland’s First Minister, Mark Swinney, echoed Taylor’s sentiment by saying at the Scottish Trades Union Congress that it “would be unacceptable to me for the band to perform on such a stage” this summer at TRNSMT on Glasgow Green.

Tory MP Mark Francois asked the same question regarding Glastonbury in parliament on April 29th, he said, “So does the Home Secretary agree it would be unconscionable for Kneecap to appear, at least whilst the police inquiry is underway?”

In response, Dan Jarvis MP, Secretary of State for Security, replied: “It is not for Government ministers to say who is going to appear at Glastonbury, it’s for the organisers of the festival. But there is, as I have said, an ongoing live police investigation, so the Government would urge the organisers at the Glastonbury Festival to think very carefully about who is invited to perform there later this year.”

Jarvis also refused to name Kneecap in parliament, explaining, “It’s for [MPs] to choose what language they would use, but my advice is not to give them any further publicity by naming them. I won’t be naming them and I would suggest that other members don’t either.”

Kneecap’s responses and apology to families of murdered MPs

Following news of an investigation by counter-terrorism police, Kneecap first issued a statement on April 25th, claiming they had been the victims of a “coordinated smear campaign” which is “based on deliberate distortions and falsehoods”.

The trio also said they are “taking action against several of these malicious efforts” before reaffirming their support for the people of Gaza, concluding, “No media spin will change this. Our only concern is the Palestinian people — the 20,000 murdered children and counting. The young people at our gigs see through the lies. They stand on the side of humanity and justice. And that gives us great hope.”

On April 28th, Kneecap issued another statement, including an apology to the families of murdered MPs David Amess and Jo Cox, who died in 2021 and 2016, respectively. They said: To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.

Kneecap also remarked: “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 know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.”

The West Belfast trio alleged the footage has been “deliberately taken out of all context” and reiterated that the investigation results from a “smear campaign”.

In response to their statement, Brendan Cox, the husband of Jo Cox, told BBC Radio Ulster it was only “half an apology”, adding, “It’s fine to say that you’re sorry for it, but the way that they have actually spoken about it is to suggest that it’s a conspiracy, that they have been targeted unfairly, and for me, that then doesn’t come across as unfortunately particularly genuine.”

The Amess family are yet to respond to Kneecap’s apology.

Kneecap shows cancelled in UK and Germany

The first UK cancellation of Kneecap was by the Eden Project in Cornwall, where the Irish band were scheduled to perform on July 4th. A spokesperson for the Eden Sessions said: “Eden Sessions Limited announced today that the Kneecap show at Eden Project scheduled for July 4, 2025, has been cancelled.”

In response, Kneecap announced a nearby show in Plymouth to allow those in the area to still see them perform on the same date, which was also cancelled before tickets went on sale.

The venue said it had “taken advice from relevant authorities and agencies” before making its decision. Their statement added, “The safety of our valued visitors is always our primary concern, and as such, we feel confident in this decision.”

Kneecap have since made new plans to visit Plymouth to play at The Depo on July 2nd, July 3rd and July 4th. They wrote on X: “Cancel one show? Here’s three more”. These shows are still scheduled to go ahead.

Meanwhile, Kneecap’s plans to visit Germany have also been scuppered. They were removed from the bill at Hurricane Festival and Southside Festival in Germany. The trio later announced a three-date tour of Germany, which would have seen them visit Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne, but it was also subsequently cancelled before tickets went on sale.

Musical community rallies in support of Kneecap

On April 30th, prominent members of the musical community rallied around Kneecap by signing an open letter in support of the Belfast trio. Notable initial signees include Paul Weller, Pulp, Massive Attack, Fontaines DC, Idles, Annie Mac, English Teacher, Biig Piig, Enter Shikari, Gurriers, Katy J Pearson, Kojaque, Sleaford Mods, The Pogues, Soft Play, Thin Lizzy, The Mary Wallopeers and Martin Ware.

Kneecap’s management welcomed others to contact Heavenly Recordings to add their names to the list, which has now grown to over 100 artists, with new additions including Tom Morello, Brian Eno, Baxter Dury, Antony Szmierek, CMAT, Mystery Jets, For Those I Love, Nadine Shah, Sprints, Warmduscher, Reverend and the Makers, The Murder Capital, Mogwai and David Holmes.

The letter reads: “This past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform the band Kneecap. In Westminster and the British media, senior political figures have been openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye, with veiled threats being made over their scheduled pertormances at gigs, outdoor events and music festivals, including Glastonbury.”

It also states: “In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people.”

The message concludes, “It is also the duty of key leadership figures in the music industry to actively defend artistic freedom of expression – rather than seek to silence views which oppose their own.”

Mo Chara charged with terror offence

Mo Chara was charged with a terror offence on May 21st for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert last year. Hezbollah is listed as a terrorist organisation by the UK authorities.

Kneecap have since hit back at the charge, sharing on social media, “14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. They profit from genocide, they use an ‘anti-terror law’ against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their ‘crown court’, instead a court that doesn’t have a jury.”

They also confirmed they “deny this offence”, described the charge as “political policing” and labelled the situation “a carnival of distraction”.

The Irish trio continued: “What’s the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification.”

Kneecap concluded: “We stand proudly with the people. You stand complicit with the war criminals. We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in your court. We will win. Free Palestine.”

Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is now set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18th.

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