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| Kneecap: More gigs cancelled in Germany after 'kill your MP' controversy | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Kneecap say they have faced a "smear campaign" | Kneecap say they have faced a "smear campaign" |
| Three more Kneecap concerts have been cancelled in Germany. | Three more Kneecap concerts have been cancelled in Germany. |
| It comes after news that footage of a band member calling for MPs to be killed is being assessed by counter-terrorism police. | It comes after news that footage of a band member calling for MPs to be killed is being assessed by counter-terrorism police. |
| A ticket site for the gigs in Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne states that the summer shows are no longer going ahead. | A ticket site for the gigs in Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne states that the summer shows are no longer going ahead. |
| A number of politicians have called for the Irish rap band to be uninvited from some UK gigs, with Tory MP Mark Francois saying the group should not be allowed to play Glastonbury in light of the ongoing police investigation. | A number of politicians have called for the Irish rap band to be uninvited from some UK gigs, with Tory MP Mark Francois saying the group should not be allowed to play Glastonbury in light of the ongoing police investigation. |
| The largest body representing Jews in the UK have called for Glastonbury to cancel the group's planned performance. | |
| In a statement, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the rap trio's remarks had "caused great concern both within the UK Jewish community and wider society". | In a statement, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the rap trio's remarks had "caused great concern both within the UK Jewish community and wider society". |
| Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time on Tuesday, the band's manager said "moral hysteria" had taken hold and that the band are being held to a higher moral standard than politicians. | Speaking on RTÉ's Prime Time on Tuesday, the band's manager said "moral hysteria" had taken hold and that the band are being held to a higher moral standard than politicians. |
| Daniel Lambert claimed a "concerted campaign" against the group is "solely about de-platforming artists". | Daniel Lambert claimed a "concerted campaign" against the group is "solely about de-platforming artists". |
| "It's about telling the next young band, both through the music industry and through the political class, that you cannot speak about Palestine," he said. | "It's about telling the next young band, both through the music industry and through the political class, that you cannot speak about Palestine," he said. |
| Other bands back Kneecap | |
| A number of other artists have signed a joint statement in support of Kneecap. | |
| Fontaines DC, Annie Mac, Bicep, Massive Attack and Christy Moore are among the artists who signed the open letter by Kneecap's record label, Heavenly Recordings. | |
| The statement said there had been a "clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform" the band. | |
| It accused "senior political figures" in Westminster and the UK media of being "openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye". | |
| "As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom," the statement added. | |
| "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." | |
| On having gigs cancelled, the band's manager said: "It's not for us to worry, it's for us to have the strength of conviction that we did the right thing." | On having gigs cancelled, the band's manager said: "It's not for us to worry, it's for us to have the strength of conviction that we did the right thing." |
| He added that going to Coachella was the right thing to do, and "all of this has emerged from that". | He added that going to Coachella was the right thing to do, and "all of this has emerged from that". |
| TV personality Sharon Osbourne called for the band's US work visas to be revoked after their performance at the Coachella music festival in California earlier this month, where they described Israel's military action in Gaza as a US-funded genocide. | TV personality Sharon Osbourne called for the band's US work visas to be revoked after their performance at the Coachella music festival in California earlier this month, where they described Israel's military action in Gaza as a US-funded genocide. |
| Which Kneecap gigs have been cancelled? | Which Kneecap gigs have been cancelled? |
| Scheduled appearances at Hurricane and Southside festivals, also in Germany, were cancelled last week. | Scheduled appearances at Hurricane and Southside festivals, also in Germany, were cancelled last week. |
| A gig at the Eden Project in Cornwall has also been cancelled. | A gig at the Eden Project in Cornwall has also been cancelled. |
| On Tuesday, an Eden Sessions Limited spokesperson said: "Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded." | On Tuesday, an Eden Sessions Limited spokesperson said: "Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded." |
| The band are set to support Fontaines DC at Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast, in August. | The band are set to support Fontaines DC at Boucher Playing Fields, Belfast, in August. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, Belfast city councillor Jim Rodgers of the Ulster Unionist Party said "serious consideration should be given" on whether the concert should go ahead. | Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's The Nolan Show, Belfast city councillor Jim Rodgers of the Ulster Unionist Party said "serious consideration should be given" on whether the concert should go ahead. |
| "I've already spoken to some of the council officers and I'm hoping that the necessary action will be taken. We have to lead by example," he said. | "I've already spoken to some of the council officers and I'm hoping that the necessary action will be taken. We have to lead by example," he said. |
| "We would be sending out the wrong message if we were to allow this group to go ahead with their event." | "We would be sending out the wrong message if we were to allow this group to go ahead with their event." |
| The Democratic Unionist Party has called for an emergency city council meeting. | The Democratic Unionist Party has called for an emergency city council meeting. |
| "Citing concerns over 'dangerous rhetoric,' glorification of terrorism, and incitement to violence, we insist such acts should not be platformed on Council-owned land," the party said. | "Citing concerns over 'dangerous rhetoric,' glorification of terrorism, and incitement to violence, we insist such acts should not be platformed on Council-owned land," the party said. |
| A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: "Use of the venue for these events is managed via a legal agreement between the council and the promoter. Events programming remains a matter for the organisers. | A Belfast City Council spokesperson said: "Use of the venue for these events is managed via a legal agreement between the council and the promoter. Events programming remains a matter for the organisers. |
| "Any matter that an elected member wishes to raise would be considered by the relevant committee and full council." | "Any matter that an elected member wishes to raise would be considered by the relevant committee and full council." |
| Who are Kneecap? | Who are Kneecap? |
| The group go by the stage names of Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí | The group go by the stage names of Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí |
| Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise. | Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise. |
| The group was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. | The group was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí. |
| Their rise to fame inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender. | Their rise to fame inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender. |
| The film won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025. | The film won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025. |
| 'Smear campaign' | 'Smear campaign' |
| Last week, a video emerged of the west Belfast trio at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one person from the band saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." | Last week, a video emerged of the west Belfast trio at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one person from the band saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." |
| The daughter of the Conservative MP David Amess whose father was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery called for Kneecap to apologise. | The daughter of the Conservative MP David Amess whose father was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery called for Kneecap to apologise. |
| In a statement on X, the band said that "an extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action". | In a statement on X, the band said that "an extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action". |
| They also called some of the backlash a "smear campaign" and said it was "a transparent effort to derail the real conversation" away from their messages of "love" and support for Palestine. | They also called some of the backlash a "smear campaign" and said it was "a transparent effort to derail the real conversation" away from their messages of "love" and support for Palestine. |
| They added: "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt." | They added: "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt." |
| Jo Cox, the former Batley and Spen MP, was killed by far-right terrorist Thomas Mair in 2016, a week before the EU referendum vote | Jo Cox, the former Batley and Spen MP, was killed by far-right terrorist Thomas Mair in 2016, a week before the EU referendum vote |
| On Tuesday, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox called on Kneecap to give a "real apology". | On Tuesday, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox called on Kneecap to give a "real apology". |
| Brendan Cox, whose wife was killed in June 2016, said this was "only half an apology". | Brendan Cox, whose wife was killed in June 2016, said this was "only half an apology". |
| None of the members of Kneecap have been charged with any offences. | None of the members of Kneecap have been charged with any offences. |