Kneecap Speak Out After Being 'Removed' From TRNSMT Festival Line-Up Due To Safety 'Concerns'
Kneecap have spoken out about being dropped from the line-up of the TRNSMT music festival due to concerns about safety.
The West Belfast hip-hop trio had been booked to perform at the Glasgow music festival in July, but on Wednesday night, it was confirmed this would no longer be going ahead.
Posting on their Instagram story, the band shared a brief statement which read: 'Due to concerns expressed by the police about safety at the event, Kneecap can no longer perform at TRNSMT.'
This post was accompanied by the N.W.A. song Fuck Tha Police.
Following this, the group wrote on X: 'To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry… it is out of our hands.
'Glasgow has always been a huge city for us. We've played there many many times, with no issues – ever. Make of that what you will.'
Kneecap then revealed they'd be performing in the city's O2 Academy on 8 July instead, 'to try to make up for it'.
They also clarified a BBC News report about them supposedly pulling out of the festival, writing back: 'Kneecap didn't 'pull out' of TRNSMT – Kneecap were removed.'
"Due to concerns expressed by the Police about safety at the event, Kneecap can no longer perform at TRNSMT." 🚔To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry...it is out of our hands. Glasgow has always been a huge city for us.… pic.twitter.com/s3Ba0ln4bC
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) May 28, 2025
Kneecap didn't "pull out" of TRNSMT - Kneecap were removed. https://t.co/WsFv8POBta
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) May 28, 2025
Kneecap found themselves at the centre of scrutiny last month, following impassioned political statements they made in support of Palestine during an appearance at the Coachella music festival in California.
Days later, it was reported that counter-terrorism police officers were assessing a resurfaced video in which the group reportedly declared 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' during a gig in London in November 2024.
Last week, band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – better known to Kneecap fans under the stage name Mo Chara – was charged with a terror offence, due to a Hezbollah flag that was reportedly displayed during that same Kneecap gig last year.
Kneecap previously said: 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.'
They've since claimed they're the victims of a 'witchhunt', with Ó hAnnaidh telling fans at a gig last week: 'There's a reason where what's happened to me, happened before Glastonbury. There's a reason they're trying to fucking stop me speaking at Glastonbury in front of the UK.'
He later added: 'The reason that we are being witchhunted here is because we, at Coachella, spoke about this about the genocide. We're not the fucking story here, they're using us as a scapegoat not to talk about the real fucking issue.'
Kneecap Issue Statement After Band Member Is Charged With Terror Offence
Kneecap React To Sharon Osbourne's Call To Revoke Their US Visas Over Coachella Set
Kneecap Blast 'Coordinated Smear Campaign' Since Coachella Performance
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