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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Kneecap banned from performing at major festival as Irish rappers accused of ‘anti-Semitic hate speech' & Hamas praise
IRISH rap stars Kneecap have been banned from performing in Hungary. The Belfast group were due to play at the Sziget Festival next month but their appearance has been blocked by the Hungarian government, who have accused them of using anti-Semitic hate speech and praising the Hamas militant group. 3 Kneecap were due to perform at Sziget next month Credit: Major Kata 3 Kneecap have been banned from entering Hungary Credit: AFP or licensors 3 A spokesperson from Hungary's government claimed Kneecap's entry would 'seriously threaten national security' Credit: Getty Images - Getty Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for Viktor Orban's government, said: 'Hungary's government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget... citing anti-Semitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification.' The Government spokesman posted the official letters from immigration authorities banning the band for three years, claiming that their entry would 'seriously threaten national security'. Hungary's government had earlier demanded festival organisers drop Kneecap from the line-up at the week-long event, which draws several hundred thousand music lovers to an island in the River Danube each year. More than 150 artists and cultural figures, including Academy Award-winning director Laszlo Nemes Jeles, had signed a petition protesting against Kneecap's participation. read more on kneecap However Sziget organisers, who said they had not been notified of the government's decision, have resisted the calls to scrap Kneecap's planned performance on August 11. Promoters said: 'Our festival remains true to what we have consistently achieved over the past 30 years: there is no place for hatred, incitement, prejudice, or any form of racism or anti-Semitism,' they said in a statement last week. Kneecap have yet to respond to the ban but they previously denied supporting the Palestinian terror group. In a statement, they said: 'Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history.' Earlier this week UK police confirmed they had dropped a criminal investigation into the performance by the Belfast rap trio at the Crowds gather as Kneecap play Glasgow gig after TRNSMT axe Avon and Somerset Police said they would be taking ' The investigation had been announced in June after officers reviewed video footage and audio recordings from the sets of Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan at the Somerset festival. 'CELEBRATION OF LOVE' In response the group, comprised of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh, posted a screenshot to social media from an email that appeared to be from a senior investigating officer. It said: 'Following a review of the evidence, I have determined there will be no further action.' In the caption of their post, Kneecap said: 'One element of the political policing intimidation attempt is over. We played a historic set at Glastonbury. "Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity. A sea of good people at the world's most famous festival.' While another act, Bob Vylan, sparked outrage when he enticed the huge audience to chant 'death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]'.
Vogue Singapore
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
Zoe Saldaña is now, officially, a Cartier ambassador
It's the ambassadorship that you might've seen coming months ago. The French jeweller Cartier has just welcomed Academy Award-winning actress and producer Zoe Saldaña, officially, into its orbit as an ambassador of the maison. 'I am honoured,' says Saldaña in a press release, 'to become an ambassador for Cartier, following many years of warm collaboration.' This year alone, Cartier selected the actress to front the global debuts of new high jewellery designs on the red carpets of events like the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes. At the Oscars, she wore the Panthères Versatiles, a transformable piece with a 10.10-carat Zambian emerald that was one of the highlights of Cartier's Nature Sauvage high jewellery collection. And at the Golden Globes, Saldaña wore the Melis, a radiant suite of yellow diamond high jewellery. On both occasions, the Parisian jewellery maison's creations accompanied Saldaña's triumphs: her first Oscar and Golden Globes wins. After a season of career-high wins in 2025 at the Oscars and Golden Globes decked in Cartier jewels, it will come as little surprise that Zoe Saldaña is now an ambassador for the maison. Here, she's wearing a La Panthère jewellery watch, and a new double-head Panthère bracelet. Agnes Lloyd-Platt, courtesy of Cartier Saldaña has, in the past, also worn one of Cartier's most audacious and unconventional designs. For the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, she collaborated with Cartier on an outfit-slash-jewel that was a highlight of the glitzy night: a bespoke chainmail cape crafted from 67,000 hand-assembled yellow gold links, with faceted onyx pendant drops, gold zips, and 150 diamonds set into the design. 'I have long been an admirer of the maison's boundary-breaking savoir-faire that creates incredible pieces of wearable art, and I look forward to continuing this special relationship,' shares Saldaña of her experiences with Cartier. Award season and its standout jewels may be over for now, but Zoe Saldaña has a slate of projects lined up and in the works that mean we will surely be seeing her decked out in Cartier jewels again soon enough. Her starring role in James Cameron's Avatar film series will include three more films, the latest of which is Avatar: Fire & Ash that's slated for a December release this year. Here's one star whose future red carpet looks we will be anticipating.
Belfast Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Hungary bans Kneecap from entering country for three years over ‘antisemitic hate speech' ahead of gig
"Hungary's government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget ... citing antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification," government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs wrote in a post on X. Kovacs later posted the official letters from immigration authorities banning the band for three years, claiming that their entry would "seriously threaten national security". In May, member Mo Chara was charged with a terrorism offence in Britain for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Hezbollah. He denies the offence. Representatives of Kneecap did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The band has said previously that its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it condemns "all attacks on civilians, always". Hungary's government had already asked festival organisers to drop Kneecap from the line-up at the week-long event, which draws several hundred thousand music lovers to an island in the River Danube each year. More than 150 artists and cultural figures, including Academy Award-winning director Laszlo Nemes Jeles, have also signed a petition protesting against Kneecap's participation. Kneecap to face no further action from police after Glastonbury performance Sziget organisers, who said they had not been notified of the government's decision, have resisted the calls to scrap Kneecap's planned performance on August 11. "Our festival remains true to what we have consistently achieved over the past 30 years: there is no place for hatred, incitement, prejudice, or any form of racism or anti-Semitism," they said in a statement last week. Sziget's other performers this year include Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Charli XCX.
Belfast Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Hungary bans Kneecap from entering country for three years over ‘antisemitic hate speech' ahead of Sziget Festival show
"Hungary's government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget ... citing antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification," government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs wrote in a post on X. Kovacs later posted the official letters from immigration authorities banning the band for three years, claiming that their entry would "seriously threaten national security". In May, member Mo Chara was charged with a terrorism offence in Britain for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Hezbollah. He denies the offence. Representatives of Kneecap did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The band has said previously that its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it condemns "all attacks on civilians, always". Hungary's government had already asked festival organisers to drop Kneecap from the line-up at the week-long event, which draws several hundred thousand music lovers to an island in the River Danube each year. More than 150 artists and cultural figures, including Academy Award-winning director Laszlo Nemes Jeles, have also signed a petition protesting against Kneecap's participation. Sziget organisers, who said they had not been notified of the government's decision, have resisted the calls to scrap Kneecap's planned performance on August 11. "Our festival remains true to what we have consistently achieved over the past 30 years: there is no place for hatred, incitement, prejudice, or any form of racism or anti-Semitism," they said in a statement last week. Sziget's other performers this year include Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Charli XCX.
Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Hungary bans Kneecap from entering country for three years over ‘antisemitic hate speech' ahead of Sziget Festival show
"Hungary's government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget ... citing antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification," government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs wrote in a post on X. Kovacs later posted the official letters from immigration authorities banning the band for three years, claiming that their entry would "seriously threaten national security". In May, member Mo Chara was charged with a terrorism offence in Britain for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Hezbollah. He denies the offence. Representatives of Kneecap did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The band has said previously that its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it condemns "all attacks on civilians, always". Hungary's government had already asked festival organisers to drop Kneecap from the line-up at the week-long event, which draws several hundred thousand music lovers to an island in the River Danube each year. More than 150 artists and cultural figures, including Academy Award-winning director Laszlo Nemes Jeles, have also signed a petition protesting against Kneecap's participation. Sziget organisers, who said they had not been notified of the government's decision, have resisted the calls to scrap Kneecap's planned performance on August 11. "Our festival remains true to what we have consistently achieved over the past 30 years: there is no place for hatred, incitement, prejudice, or any form of racism or anti-Semitism," they said in a statement last week. Sziget's other performers this year include Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Charli XCX.
