BBC's Annie Mac backs Kneecap in freedom of expression row

Telegraph

01-05-2025

Annie Mac, the former BBC Radio 1 DJ, is among celebrities rallying against the 'censorship' of Kneecap.
The Northern Irish rap group is being investigated by counter-terrorism officers at the Metropolitan Police over footage of alleged on-stage shouts of 'up Hamas' and 'kill your local MP'.
Paul Weller, The Pogues, Pulp and the surviving members of Thin Lizzy have signed a letter of support for the band 's right to perform which they claim is under attack by 'Westminster and the British media'.
Mac, now a BBC podcaster and author, is among the signatories of the letter, which comes following calls for Glastonbury to cancel Kneecap's planned set.
The letter states: 'The past week has seen a clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately de-platform 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.'
The letter, organised by Kneecap's record label Heavenly Recordings, opposes 'political repression of artist freedom'.
It argues that no band should be censored for their free expression, and that politicians should not interfere in artistic expression, or dictate which bands the public can see.
It states: 'In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does or does not play at music festivals or gigs.'
The Met counter terror police launched an investigation on April 23 into footage from a past Kneecap concert.
During one concert last year, a band member appeared to shout 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah'. One member was draped in a Hezbollah flag at the same event.
The Met confirmed on Thursday that the force is also looking at footage of another performance, in 2023, during which a band member appears to shout 'the only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP'.
A spokesman for the Met said: '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 offences linked to both videos.
'The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and enquiries remain ongoing at this time.'
The artists made clear that they were concerned about the band's freedom of expression in their letter. 'The question of agreeing with Kneecap's political views is irrelevant: it is in the key interests of every artist that all creative expression be protected.'
In 2021, Mac announced that she would be leaving BBC Radio 1 after 17 years with the station, saying that she wanted 'more time to write fiction and to create podcasts'.
The Dublin-born DJ, full name Annie Macmanus, first became known for promoting electronic music from the Ibiza dance scene. One of the BBC's most prominent DJs, she was known for her involvement in the broadcaster's festival, BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend.
She now hosts a podcast for the BBC, Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, which she co-presents with Nick Grimshaw.
On a podcast on April 24 she revealed she had met Kneecap at a book launch, and discussed their controversial set at the Coachella Festival in California.
During two gigs at the festival, Kneecap mocked the death of Margaret Thatcher, and projected a message saying 'F*** Israel. Free Palestine'.
The gig provoked a furious backlash and prompted calls for Kneecap to be kicked out of the US.
Mac said what was interesting about the row over Kneecap was 'the American stance, and the American media's stance'.
She added that 'there is a much, much more pro-Israel sentiment in America' and 'I think people aren't being exposed to what is happening in Gaza in the same way that they might be here'.
She expressed bemusement at Kneecap being criticised for being overtly political, when numerous bands like Rage Against the Machine have made their names with political messaging.
Grimshaw also made reference to the audience's shock at Kneecap's messaging, which he summarised as 'oh my god a band said something they believe in'.
The podcast was recorded before news of the police investigation broke.
'Dangerous and irresponsible'
Earlier this week, Dan Jarvis, a Home Office minister, warned Glastonbury organisers to 'think very carefully' about who performs at the festival amid calls for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up.
Responding to an urgent question on the issue, Mr Jarvis described the group's remarks as 'dangerous and irresponsible'.
The alleged remarks about MPs were condemned across the Commons in the wake of the murders of Jo Cox, a Labour MP, in 2016, and Sir David Amess, a Tory MP, in 2021.
In a statement earlier this week, Kneecap said: 'Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria.
'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.
'We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.'
Directly addressing the families of Sir David and Ms Cox, the band added: 'We send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.'
But Downing Street condemned the statement put out by Kneecap as 'half-hearted' and indicated the band should make a fuller apology.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We completely reject in the strongest possible terms the comments that they've made, particularly in relation to MPs and intimidation, as well as obviously the situation in the Middle East.'
On Thursday, Downing Street repeated its condemnation of Kneecap's apparent remarks.
A No 10 spokesman said: 'As the PM has said we obviously condemn the comments they made, it's right that they were being investigated and political intimidation and abuse have no place in our society.'
'Incitement of violence'
Brendan Cox, the husband of Ms Cox, called the statement 'only half an apology' in an interview with BBC Radio Ulster. He said the band did not grapple 'enough with the gravity' of what they had allegedly said.
The daughter of Sir David, who was stabbed to death in 2021, suggested the trio had been 'badly advised'.
Katie Amess said the statement was 'deflection and excuses and gaslighting', and that it would be 'very dangerous' for the group to perform at Glastonbury.
She has also praised the 'swift action taken by law enforcement', saying: 'Kneecap's rhetoric is not only abhorrent but poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of elected officials and the democratic institutions they represent.
'The glorification and incitement of violence have no place in our society and must be unequivocally condemned.
'I commend the swift action taken by law enforcement agencies in addressing this and urge a thorough investigation to determine the full extent of any criminal activity.
'It is imperative that individuals and groups are held accountable for their words and actions that incite violence and hatred.
'As a society, we must stand united against all forms of extremism and ensure that our public spaces, including artistic and cultural venues, are not exploited to propagate messages of hate.'
'Clear attempt to censor'
In a joint statement, artists including Pulp, Paul Weller, Annie Mac and Primal Scream have defended the band's right to artistic free expression, and said there is a 'clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately de-platform' Kneecap.
It said politicians are 'strategically concocting moral outrage over the stage utterings of a young punk band' while ignoring a 'genocide' in Gaza, following the band calling attention to the war at Coachella.
Kneecap's scheduled performance at the Eden Project in Cornwall on July 4 has already been cancelled amid the row, while ticket websites for three gigs in Germany said the shows in the country have been cancelled.
When asked about Kneecap's comment at a launch event for the Live Aid musical on Thursday, Irish singer Bob Geldof said: 'I don't know what they've said, great music, but I don't know what they've said so I can't comment on that.'