Behind the Story: Where do Kneecap go from here?

RTÉ News​

30-04-2025

RTÉ News has launched a new podcast, Behind the Story, where David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty digest some of the news stories of the day.
In the first episode, the team takes a look at the controversy surrounding the Irish rap group Kneecap.
The hosts discuss the fallout of what has happened and how their previous fight with the UK government over funding may have made them a target for people "of a certain political persuasion" in Britain, as well as certain elements of the media.
Belfast rap trio Kneecap have been under the spotlight since their recent appearance at the major US festival Coachella, in which they displayed messages on stage criticising Israel's actions in Gaza.
The statements got the attention of US media, while television personality Sharon Osbourne called on their visas to be revoked.
Ms Osbourne's comments in particular made a lot of headlines.
Since then, other footage of some of their previous gigs have circulated online, with two incidents now under police investigation.
One video from a November 2023 gig appears to show one member of the group referring to killing British MPs.
Other footage also circulated online from a concert in November last year, which showed a band member saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".
Since these videos have been highlighted, the band's visa sponsor in the US has dropped them, while organisers of three gigs scheduled for Germany and another in the UK have cancelled the concerts.
Kneecap's manager Daniel Lambert said it has been a difficult time for the group and described what has happened as a "concentrated campaign" against them.
"As soon as the Coachella thing popped up some thought, well wait a minute let's have a little look at what's online of their concerts and everything - and shock horror - it turns out that members of a rap group said things which were inflammatory, unwise and controversial," said host David McCullagh.
The band claims their controversial remarks were taken out of context, but Fran McNulty and Katie Hannon question what context those incidents are supposed to be taken in.
"Apart from that investigation they have a real problem on their hands," said Fran.
"This is going to cost dearly," he added.
Fran and Katie look at their future gigs, from Glastonbury to their US tour due in October, and how their critics are mounting pressure on the organisers.
One of those critics is Katie Amess, the daughter of Tory MP David Amess who was murdered at his constituency office in 2021.
On Monday, the band made a statement apologising to his family, as well as the family of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.
But Ms Amess described their statement as "deflection and excuses and gaslighting" while Jo Cox's husband Brandan Cox also told BBC Radio Ulster that he did not believe the band's claim that the footage was taken out of context.