Kneecap supports Palestine at Glastonbury as crowd chants against IDF and UK political pressure mounts
Their appearance followed recent legal scrutiny of member Liam O'Hanna, known as Mo Chara, who was charged earlier this month over a video in which he appeared with a Hezbollah flag during a London concert. O'Hanna has denied the allegations, telling The Guardian the video was taken out of context and was part of a satirical performance. 'Why should I regret it? It was a joke — we're playing characters,' he said.
Wearing a keffiyeh, O'Hanna told the Glastonbury crowd their own legal and political struggles pale in comparison to the daily suffering of Palestinians living under occupation. 'This situation can be quite stressful, but it's minimal compared to what the Palestinian people are facing,' he said to cheers and raised flags from the crowd.
Earlier in the evening, punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led a segment of the audience in chanting 'Death, death to the IDF,' a direct protest against the Israeli military's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. The chant, though controversial, was framed by supporters as a rejection of state violence and a cry of solidarity with victims of ongoing military operations.
The BBC editor is gonna have some job 👏😂🇵🇸
'The stress that we are feeling is minimal compared to what the Palestinian people are going through every fucking day' 🇵🇸💚 #Kneecap #Glastonbury2025 pic.twitter.com/dXmABxX3tm — Jackie 🍀 (@Jackie7681) June 28, 2025
Kneecap also expressed support for Palestine Action, an activist group recently banned by the UK government under terrorism legislation. DJ Provai wore a shirt referencing the group, whose direct action campaigns have targeted institutions linked to arms sales to Israel.
The BBC really thought they had it all covered by not live streaming Kneecaps set 😂
Then comes along Bob Vylan 🎤 #Glastonbury2025
pic.twitter.com/jElyFDuwgx — The Rock Revival (@TheRockRevival_) June 28, 2025
Despite calls from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cancel their set, Glastonbury organizers stood firm. Co-founder Michael Eavis said, 'People that don't like the politics of the event can go somewhere else.'
The BBC declined to air the performance live but indicated it may be available on-demand — a decision that reflects the ongoing debate about artistic expression and political protest in mainstream media.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Russell Crowe reflects on 2005 phone-throwing incident after nearly two decades of silence
Russell Crowe has spoken publicly for the first time in nearly 20 years about the infamous phone-throwing incident that led to his arrest in New York in 2005. The Oscar-winning actor, now 61, expressed regret over the episode in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, saying he has grown from the experience and now values the lessons it taught him. The incident occurred in June 2005 at the Mercer Hotel in Manhattan, where Crowe was staying while promoting his film Cinderella Man. After being unable to make a long-distance call to his then-wife, Danielle Spencer, in Australia, Crowe lost his temper and threw a telephone at a front desk employee, Nestor Estrada. He was arrested and led from the hotel in handcuffs, spending six hours in police custody. Crowe initially faced felony charges but later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of third-degree assault. He avoided jail time but paid a reported $100,000 to settle a civil lawsuit filed by Estrada. At the time, Crowe admitted he struggled with anger management and described feeling 'at the bottom of a well.' Now, Crowe has reflected on the experience through both words and music. In the video for his new single Save Me, with his band The Gentlemen Barbers, he alludes to the incident. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, he said, 'At 61, I can forgive my bad days. I absolutely respect regret. Regret is one of the greatest processes.' Crowe added that he has become 'smarter' over the years and more honest with himself. He shared a tongue-in-cheek reference to his time in custody: 'Sometimes you're singing Irish folk songs to the prison officer who is looking after you in jail.' The actor was married to Danielle Spencer from 2003 until their separation in 2012. They finalized their divorce in 2018 and share two sons, Charlie and Tennyson.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
JADE criticises "white and straight and very privileged" Matty Healy over political neutrality
Singer Jade Thirlwall, also known as JADE has openly criticised The 1975 frontman Matty Healy after he declared he no longer wanted his band's legacy 'to be one of politics.' Healy told fans during The 1975's headline Glastonbury set in June, 'We don't need more politics. We need more love and friendship.' JADE, however, disagreed in an interview with The Guardian, calling the stance 'disappointing.' She said, 'I don't think you can be a pop artist and cover your eyes. It's very easy for someone who's white and straight and very privileged to say that. Good for you, hun!' The 32-year-old, who rose to fame as part of Little Mix before launching her solo career, is well known for her activism. She used her own Glastonbury set to protest against welfare cuts, silencing protest, and arms sales, and has long been vocal on LGBT+ rights and Palestinian freedom. In 2015, she famously hijacked the Little Mix Twitter account to condemn Parliament's vote to bomb Syria, signing off 'xxJadexx.' Healy, 36, has previously drawn headlines for his political statements, including criticising Malaysia's anti-LGBT laws in 2023, a move that saw The 1975 banned from the country. He also sparked controversy that same year after appearing to mimic a Nazi salute during a performance. Despite this history, he has insisted the band will now remain politically neutral.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Express Tribune
Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson marries DJ Denis Sulta in Celtic-inspired Irish and Scottish wedding
Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson has tied the knot with DJ Denis Sulta, whose real name is Hector Barbour, in a wedding that embraced both Irish and Scottish heritage. The three-day celebration took place at Dromquinna Manor in Ireland, with 160 guests in attendance, including Jackson's former Derry Girls co-star Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, who served as a bridesmaid. Details of the event were shared in a British Vogue interview published August 15, 2025. Jackson, 31, described her wedding look as a 'Celtic warrior princess.' She walked down the aisle in a bespoke gown from Annie's Ibiza, inspired in part by a design once worn by Zendaya. While both dresses featured an ivory corset, Jackson's gown included puff sleeves and a reversible tartan side to honor her husband's Scottish roots. Barbour, 32, wore a Hebridean MacKenzie tartan kilt paired with a Montrose doublet jacket. His outfit was completed with a family brooch and his father's sporran, adding sentimental value to the traditional ensemble. Following their vows, the newlyweds hosted a lively reception filled with personal and playful touches. Guests enjoyed pints of Guinness decorated with foam photos of the couple, while Jackson's father surprised everyone in a Darth Vader costume—referencing Barbour's birth certificate, which amusingly lists him as a Jedi. A singer also appeared dressed as Elphaba from Wicked to perform 'Defying Gravity,' Barbour's favorite song. Later in the evening, Jackson revealed a surprise by flipping her corset to display its hidden tartan design before joining guests on the dance floor. Reflecting on the celebration, she said: 'Everybody said that the whole weekend was like something from a movie, and it really was. I want to do it again.'
