The Irish band Kneecap did greater than flash an unpleasant message eventually month’s Coachella pageant.
The rappers beforehand known as for the demise of conservative politicians, in keeping with experiences in The Hollywood Reporter and the BBC.
“The one good Tory is a lifeless Tory. Kill your native MP.” The trio additionally has been seen declaring, “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”
Each teams have been designated as terrorist organizations. The previous led an assault on a musical pageant on Oct. 7, 2023 that killed a whole bunch of revelers.
These knowledge factors resurfaced following the trio’s incendiary messaging on the U.S.-based pageant.
“F*** Israel. Free Palestine.”
Sharon Osbourne urges feds to yank Kneecap’s US visas following anti-Israel Coachella set https://t.co/RGYYD0XsHa pic.twitter.com/noRYvQ5m8T
— New York Publish (@nypost) April 23, 2025
Now, musicians are rallying to Kneecap’s facet because the band faces gig cancellations and condemnations in choose quarters.
“As artists, we really feel the necessity to register our opposition to any political repression of creative freedom.
“In a democracy, no political figures or political events ought to have the precise to dictate who does and doesn’t play at music festivals or gigs that will probably be loved by 1000’s of individuals.”
Among the many bands signing the letter (or supporting Kneecap) embrace Large Assault, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Pulp, Bob Vylan, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Supply, Dexys, English Instructor, Enter Shikari, Fontaines D.C., Gemma Dunleavy and DJ Annie Mac.
One musician begged to vary.
RELATED: ARE CRITICS AVOIDING ‘SCREAMS BEFORE SILENCE?’
Winston Marshall, previously of Mumford & Sons, scorched his fellow artists on X for his or her stance. And he drew upon his private story alongside the way in which.
Marshall was pressured to give up the band in 2021 after supporting journalist Andy Ngo’s mission to reveal Antifa. That “thought crime” was a bridge too far, and he acquired little to no help from his bandmates or different musicians.
Me: “Andy Ngo is a courageous man. Antifa are dangerous. BLM Riots are dangerous”
Music trade: widespread condemnation
Kneecap: “Hamas good. Hezbollah good. Kill Tory MPs.”
Music trade: widespread help
That wasn’t all Marshall shared on social media. He drilled down into the hypocrisy behind the open letter, drawing upon the previous couple of years to again up his case.
None of those artists stand for freedom of expression.
None of them have proven help for Morrissey, JK Rowling, MIA or anybody who has spoken out in opposition to progressive orthodoxy
None of them expressed concern for brits being sentenced to prolonged jail sentences for social media… https://t.co/QUdDMQJ1dp
— Winston Marshall (@MrWinMarshall) Could 1, 2025
He’s proper, and none of that is new within the creative group.
Hollywood collectively did not help free speech through the woke years. Artists stayed silent, for probably the most half, as “problematic” artwork acquired erased and set off warnings greeted content material. They mentioned nothing as “sensitivity readers” erased passages by Roald Dahl, Ian Fleming and Agatha Christie.
Comedians howled as traditional works by Dr. Seuss acquired memory-holed.
Stars largely stood down as comedians discovered their work below excessive scrutiny, with some fearing for his or her skilled lives.
And plenty of artists cheered when a former U.S. president acquired booted from social media platforms.
Had the musicians standing up for Kneecap spoken up over any of the aforementioned free speech points they’d have an ethical leg to face on. Marshall’s X publish revealed simply that.