Kneecap performed the most important set of their profession to date at Glastonbury Pageant on Saturday, with the West Holts stage hitting capability almost an hour earlier than the Irish rap trio’s set. After the BBC opted to not air the present reside resulting from their rising controversy within the U.Ok., Kneecap didn’t hesitate to get political, main the group in a number of chants of “fuck Keir Starmer” and “free Palestine.”

“Mo Chara was within the courts, the Westminster courts this month,” mentioned member Móglaí Bap of his bandmate, who’s presently dealing with terror expenses within the U.Ok. for allegedly supporting Hamas and Hezbollah, that are each thought of terror organizations by the U.Ok. authorities.

“It’s not the primary time there was a miscarriage of justice for an Irish particular person within the British justice system,” Bap added, inciting overwhelming cheers from the viewers.

BBC confirmed earlier on Saturday that Kneecap’s set wouldn’t be livestreamed however could be made accessible on demand.

Although Kneecap didn’t tackle the BBC’s determination particularly throughout their set, looking in any respect the Palestinian flags within the viewers, Chara mentioned: “The BBC editor goes to have some fucking job.”

Although no stranger to scary sturdy reactions with political messaging, particularly relating to advocating for the reunification of Eire and a free Palestine, Kneecap has lately discovered itself in authorized hassle within the U.Ok. After the group’s Coachella efficiency — wherein they displayed messages together with “Israel is committing genocide in opposition to the Palestinian individuals” and “it’s being enabled by the U.S.” — introduced world consideration, the U.Ok. counter-terrorism police opened an investigation into them.

Talking concerning the group’s Coachella look, Chara added: “Everybody in that fucking tent agreed with me. The Israel and U.S. media don’t wish to imagine that younger People agree with us.”

A video from November allegedly displaying member Mo Chara holding up the Hezbollah flag and chanting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” resulted in him being charged underneath the nation’s Terrorism Act. In response, the band mentioned that they “don’t, and have by no means supported, Hamas or Hezbollah” and claimed that the footage was “taken out of context” as a part of a “smear marketing campaign.” Chara appeared in courtroom in London on June 18, and was granted unconditional bail till his subsequent listening to on Aug. 20, which means that the group may nonetheless play at Glastonbury. Nonetheless, U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed The Solar that he doesn’t “assume that’s applicable.”

“I feel we have to come down actually clearly on this,” Starmer mentioned. “That is concerning the threats that shouldn’t be made, I gained’t say an excessive amount of as a result of there’s a courtroom case on, however I don’t assume that’s applicable.”

On Instagram, Kneecap responded: “You understand what’s ‘not applicable’ Keir?! Arming a fucking genocide.”

Starmer isn’t the one politician who has known as for Kneecap to be pulled from the Glasto lineup. Conservative Celebration chief Kemi Badenoch posted on X that the BBC, which livestreams units from the pageant, shouldn’t present their efficiency.

“As a publicly funded platform, the BBC shouldn’t be rewarding extremism,” she wrote. A BBC spokesperson later responded (by way of BBC Information): “While the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans will be sure that our programming will meet our editorial tips. Choices about our output will probably be made within the lead-up to the pageant.”

Regardless of the political controversy, Kneecap has obtained assist from some massive names within the U.Ok. music trade like Huge Assault and Johnny Marr. In a put up on his socials about requires Kneecap to not play Glastonbury, the previous Smiths guitarist mentioned the pageant “has at all times had a political side.”

“Oppression fears creative expression,” he wrote. “I respect all musicians who use their platform to talk out in opposition to injustice, who promote compassion and equality and provides voice to the unvoiced.”