Latest news with #IrishFilmandTelevisionAcademyAwardsCeremony
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Irish rappers Kneecap ‘not welcome' at O2 gig as vandals target Glasgow venue
Protesters daubed the front of Glasgow's O2 Academy with 'Kneecap not welcome' as they prepare to play at a sell-out gig RAP IT Irish rappers Kneecap 'not welcome' at O2 gig as vandals target Glasgow venue VANDALS have targeted a music venue set to host controversial Irish rap band Kneecap after they were axed from the TRNSMT line-up. Protesters daubed the front of Glasgow's O2 Academy with 'Kneecap not welcome' as they prepare to play at a sell-out gig next month. Advertisement 4 Kneecap at the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards Ceremony Credit: PA 4 Protesters daubed the front of Glasgow's O2 Academy with 'Kneecap not welcome' Credit: John Kirkby 4 Workers were this morning seen painting over the slogans Credit: John Kirkby It comes after the group were ditched by promoters DF Concerts amid 'safety concerns' around the July 11 Glasgow Green showpiece. The pre-sale for the new show on July 8 sold out in 80 seconds with the band claiming on X it was a 'new record'. But the band's plans to play in Scotland have continued to attract protests with Jewish activists demanding the O2 gig be axed. The plea by Scotland Against Antisemitism was made as Kneecap came under fire over alleged support for terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Advertisement In an open letter, the SAA group said: "With full knowledge of Kneecap's hate speech, does the Academy wish to continue to give a platform to this band?" Now vandals have made their anger known by daubing graffiti on the front of the Eglinton Street venue. Workers were this morning seen painting over the slogans. Cops had earlier warned a "significant policing operation" would be needed at TRNSMT if the group performed at the festival. Advertisement It followed weeks of questioning over the controversial band's appearance at the Glasgow event after they allegedly called for MPs to be killed. The Belfast trio said after they got the chop: "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." Major TRNSMT act Kneecap in doubt after member charged with TERROR offences They later said on X: "Kneecap didn't 'pull out' - Kneecap were removed." Advertisement A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Any decision on the line-up is for the organisers. "Officers highlighted that the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation to support the delivery of a safe event." DF Concerts, organisers of the bash from July 11-13, said: "Due to concerns expressed by the police about safety at the event, Kneecap will no longer perform. 4 Concert bosses dropped Kneecap over 'safety concerns' around the TRNSMT show. Credit: Roddy Scott Advertisement "We thank fans for their understanding." Glasgow politicians have hit out at Police Scotland's stance on the TRNSMT performance- branding the decision "questionable." Glasgow Greens co-leader Jon Molyneux said: 'The police position on this is deeply questionable." However, First Minister John Swinney had said it would be unacceptable for them to perform at TRNSMT. Advertisement We told how PM Sir Keir Starmer earlier called for Glastonbury to axe Kneecap from its line-up after a band member was charged with a terror offence. Rapper Liam O'Hanna appeared in court last week accused of displaying a flag in support of banned terror group Hezbollah at a London gig. O'Hanna, 27, from Belfast, is charged with displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a gig. The alleged incident unfolded on November 21 last year at the O2 Forum, in Kentish Town, London. Advertisement He was released on unconditional bail after appearing on the a terror charge, with the next hearing set on 20 August. Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: 'Kneecap views aren't controversial, they're beyond the pale. 'Given that a member of the band was charged with terror offences and they have a track record of antisemitic comments, the operators of the O2 should consider whether it is appropriate for them to perform.'
BreakingNews.ie
28-04-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach calls on Kneecap to ‘urgently clarify' their views
Belfast rap trio Kneecap must 'urgently clarify' alleged comments attributed to band members around support for Hamas and Hezbollah, and the killing of Tory MPs, the Taoiseach has said. Micheál Martin called for the clarification after a video emerged of the group at a November 2023 gig, appearing to show one member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' Advertisement Counter-terrorism police in London are examining the footage, along with a video clip from another concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' – groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK. Members of Kneecap, Mo Chara, JJ O'Dochartaigh and Moglai Bap attending the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards Ceremony in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Mr Martin was asked about the clips as he spoke to reporters in Dublin on Monday. He said it was 'important' for the band to clarify its position. 'Have they, or do they, support Hamas and Hezbollah, because that would be unacceptable,' he said. 'I mean, Hezbollah are responsible, in my view, for the murder of Sean Rooney [Irish soldier killed in Lebanon in 2022]. Advertisement 'And both Hamas and Hezbollah have views that are absolutely… not just views, but participated in terrorist activities and appalling killing of innocent people, as witnessed on October 7th. 'But it's not clear to me that they do, that Kneecap does support Hezbollah and Hamas. It's been asserted that they have made commentary in support of both. I think they need to urgently clarify that. 'Again, I haven't heard in respect [of the comments about MPs], but again we've had some horrific events in terms of the killing of MPs in Britain, so there's a huge responsibility on everybody to be very, very focused in terms of the protection of public representatives and the safety of public representatives, irrespective of what political views we have. 'I think it's important that free speech is always facilitated and the capacity to speak out and criticise, and condemn policies of others. Advertisement 'That's all legitimate. But in terms of life and security and safety of people, that's a different issue.' Mr Martin was also asked about the criticism Kneecap has faced in the US over its recent performance during the major music festival Coachella, held in California. At Coachella, Kneecap displayed messages which read: 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people'; 'It is being enabled by the US g,overnment who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes'; and 'F*** Israel. Free Palestine'. Mr Martin was asked to comment on calls from some of the band's critics for its members to be denied a new US visa ahead of future gigs in the country. Advertisement Ireland Irish woman living legally in the US detained afte... Read More He replied: 'First of all, I think we need clarity. 'This has been asserted, albeit in respect to one or two public events, and I think it would benefit the entire conversation if Kneecap were to clarify urgently their position in respect of Hezbollah for example, and in respect of Hamas, and also their very clear denunciation of any violence or threat of violence against public representatives, I think that's very, very important. 'In the broader scheme of things, in arts and creative arts and so on like that, people have always been facilitated in terms of their right to criticise particular policies and so on. There's no issue there.'
