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Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Setting the Stage for Hate: Kneecap and Coachella's Collapse of Conscience (Opinion)
Coachella stands at the epicenter of global music culture — a world stage where performances reverberate far beyond the desert. Such a platform demands responsibility, one that Paul Tollett and festival promoters AEG/Goldenvoice abandoned when they handed the stage to Kneecap, an Irish band with a public record of cheering on terror groups and promoting hate. In my view, it wasn't a mistake. It was a choice. And when the hate speech poured out from the stage, it wasn't just heard by the thousands in attendance. It was broadcast across social media, third party livestreams, and endless reposts, amplifying their venom to millions. This wasn't fringe noise in a dive bar heard only by their fans. It was onstage at Coachella's global megaphone. More from The Hollywood Reporter Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll Join Post Malone to Close Out Coachella Irish Band Kneecap Displays Anti-Israel Messages During Coachella Weekend 2 Set 'Blindsiding' Festival Organizers Maren Morris Talks Coachella Sets With Zedd and the LA Philharmonic: "I Feel Like I Just Got My Voice Back" What did Paul Tollett expect? Tollett, the founder of Coachella, has spoken about the festival's cultural significance, about his responsibility to the audience, about creating a space that is 'safe,' and 'inclusive.' So where was that responsibility when the bright red flags around Kneecap were raised — again and again — by people in our business who knew what was coming? Kneecap's affiliations, politics, and tactics are not secrets. And they are not subtle. Their ideology and provocations have long been part of their brand. Paul and Goldenvoice had ample warning. They didn't act. They didn't speak. And worse — they still haven't. Let's be clear: this isn't about artistic freedom. I'm a First Amendment near absolutist. This is about enabling hate speech. This is about aligning a painstakingly curated and coveted brand — and its audience — with a group whose words and symbols glorify violence and celebrate those who commit it. This is about re-traumatizing Jewish attendees — and others, many of them teenagers. This is about rhetoric that that ripped open the wounds left by the sexual assault and slaughter of young music lovers at the Nova Festival, people not unlike those standing in that desert crowd. The audience was forced to participate in a display that wasn't just offensive — it was dangerous. So, what now? What does accountability look like when a $600 ticket buys you fear instead of joy, hostility instead of unity? What is the responsibility of an organizer when they provide a platform to groups that violate the very principles music is meant to uplift? Tollett doesn't get to hide behind silence. Neither does Goldenvoice, nor AEG. And neither does the music industry. As a Jewish executive who has spent my lifetime in this business. I've celebrated its power to uplift, to inspire, to unite. But I watched this moment in stunned disbelief. And I have heard the silence of those responsible. I think every link in the chain failed. From the booking agents to the stage managers, from the brand partners to the artist liaisons. Each had a chance to say this isn't right. And no one did. The result? Coachella became a vehicle not for joy, but for intimidation. Not for healing, but for harm. It didn't have to happen. We pride ourselves on being cultural leaders. Let's focus on building bridges not burning them. So now the question is: What will we do about it? Will Tollett address the uproar? Will Goldenvoice apologize — not just with corporate platitudes, but with meaningful action? Visiting the Nova Exhibition as Tollett did doesn't absolve him of responsibility. If anything, the fact that he had a window into the horrors those festival-goers endured makes his decision to turn a blind eye to this all the more disappointing. Will the industry stand up and draw a line between freedom of expression and platforms of hate? We'll see. But know this: the silence of those responsible in our industry is no longer ignorance. It's complicity. And I for one won't forget. Lee Trink is a music industry veteran who was previously the president of Capitol Records and a former manager of major artists. As the co-founder of esports and entertainment brand FaZe Clan, he's spent his career at the intersection of music, media and youth culture. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2024: Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny, Olivia Rodrigo and More
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sharon Osbourne Calls for Revocation of Kneecap's Work Visas after Coachella Set
The post Sharon Osbourne Calls for Revocation of Kneecap's Work Visas after Coachella Set appeared first on Consequence. Sharon Osbourne has issued a lengthy statement lambasting the band Kneecap and the organizers of Coachella for the Northern Ireland hip-hop act's anti-Israel messaging at the California festival over the weekend. She even went so far as to call for the revocation of Kneecap's work visas. During their set on the second weekend of Coachella this past Friday (April 18th), Kneecap had the words 'Fuck Israel, Free Palestine' projected on the big screen behind them. Other messaging included, 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people … It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.' Paul Tollett, the CEO of Coachella organizer Goldenvoice, stated that he was 'blindsided' by Kneecap's actions, but that didn't stop Osbourne from blasting Goldenvoice along with Kneecap, with some criticism aimed at Green Day, as well. Her full statement reads as follows: 'Coachella 2025 will be remembered as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity. Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression. At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse. While festivals like Coachella showcase remarkable talent from around the globe, music's primary purpose is to unite people. It should not be a venue for promoting terrorist organizations or spreading hate. Green Day, a band I personally admire, chose to share their views on the Middle East during their Coachella performance. While I respect their right to express their opinions, such discussions would have been more appropriate at their own concert, not at a festival. Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements. Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support terrorist organizations. This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA. Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was unaware of Kneecap's political intentions when they were booked. However, after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence. Scooter Braun, who has been involved in organizing the Nova Music Festival exhibit—a tribute to the victims of the October 7th attacks in Israel—has defended Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett as he attended the Nova Exhibit. If Tollett visited the Nova exhibit, he would have seen the portraits of every person that was killed that day and heard some of their voices on cell phone recordings, sent home to their loved ones. It is difficult to comprehend how if somebody saw this exhibit firsthand that they could book a band on their festival that is in support of what was done that day and supports the group responsible for this mass murder. Not one IDF solider was killed that day, just 1400 innocent civilians. Furthermore, the Independent Artists Group, which represents Kneecap, includes individuals of Jewish heritage. It is disheartening that they have not used their positions to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages. Shame on them. As someone with both Irish Catholic on my Mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my Fathers side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved. Goldenvoice's claim of being 'blindsided' by Kneecap's performance seems implausible given the circumstances. I know for a fact that certain people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice, airing their concerns around the booking of Kneecap. I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap's work visa.' Osbourne's message was met with support by Disturbed singer David Draiman, who is Jewish and has long been pro-Israel. He wrote, 'Much love my friend, and thank you.' Draiman previously criticized Kneecap a few days earlier, posting a picture of himself holding up his middle finger, and writing, 'Here's some uncensored messaging for you pathetic, virtue signaling morons. Am Yisrael Chai sweethearts.' Others criticized Osbourne's stance, with one person writing, 'Lest we remind you that your husband made his millions from the anti-war protest song 'War Pigs'? You've become what you hated.' See the X/Twitter posts from Sharon Osbourne and David Draiman below. Popular Posts deadmau5 Apologizes for Blacking Out During Coachella Set The 100 Best Guitarists of All Time New Pornographers Drummer Joseph Seiders Charged with Child Pornography Reggie Watts Bummed Out by Coachella: "[Its] Soul Feels Increasingly Absent" Haley Joel Osment Arrested for Public Intoxication At Ski Resort 4chan Likely Gone Forever After Hackers Take Control Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Coachella 'Blindsided' by Kneecap's Anti-Israel Message: Report
The post Coachella 'Blindsided' by Kneecap's Anti-Israel Message: Report appeared first on Consequence. During the first weekend of Coachella 2025, Irish rap trio Kneecap led 'Free Palestine' and anti-Margaret Thatcher chants that were cut from the official livestream. On Friday, April 18th, the group returned for weekend two and doubled down by displaying, 'Fuck Israel, free Palestine' on the screens behind them. Following criticism from Jewish groups directed at festival organizer Goldenvoice for the band's actions, The Hollywood Reporter has published a report claiming CEO Paul Tollett was 'blindsided' by the incident. Get Kneecap Tickets Here It's worth noting that sets at the Sonora tent were not livestreamed via Coachella's official channels during weekend two, but Kneecap brought out streamer Hasan Piker to broadcast their protest on Twitch. 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,' another message read on their stage screens. 'It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.' Mo Chara also paused Kneecap's performance for a brief speech. 'The Irish not so long ago were persecuted at the hands of the Brits, but we were never bombed from the fucking skies with nowhere to go,' he said. 'The Palestinians have nowhere to go, it's their fucking home and they're bombing them from the skies.' 'If you're not calling it a genocide what the fuck are you calling it?' he added, before leading a 'Free, free Palestine' chant. In response to Kneecap's performance, the pro-Israel nonprofit Creative Community for Peace shared a statement from executive director Ari Ingel: 'Festivals such as Coachella are meant to bring people together to celebrate music and life, instead they allowed the festival to devolve into a forum of hate — platforming a band that praised a terrorist group that carried out the largest massacre in music history. At a time of record levels of antisemitism, it is outrageous that AEG and Goldenvoice allowed this to happen.' Disturbed lead vocalist David Draiman, who is Jewish, responded to Kneecap on social media. 'Here's some uncensored messaging for you pathetic, virtue signaling morons,' he wrote, alongside a photo of him holding up a middle finger. 'Am Yisrael Chai sweethearts.' Kneecap have consistently stood with Palestine through numerous social media statements and actions like boycotting SXSW 2024 after they learned the US Army and a defense contractor that has supplied weapons to Israel were sponsoring the festival. More recently, they condemned Israel for breaking the Gaza ceasefire and cited the attack on No Other Land director Hamdan Ballal by Israeli settlers as the latest instance of a 'total and brutal occupation on every level imaginable.' They added, 'FUCK US-BACKED ISRAEL.' Popular Posts The 100 Best Guitarists of All Time New Pornographers Drummer Joseph Seiders Charged with Child Pornography Reggie Watts Bummed Out by Coachella: "[Its] Soul Feels Increasingly Absent" Haley Joel Osment Arrested for Public Intoxication At Ski Resort 4chan Likely Gone Forever After Hackers Take Control Lady Gaga Battles Tech Issues at Coachella: "At Least You Know I Sing Live" Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Irish Rap Group Kneecap Projects Aggressive Pro-Palestine, Anti-Israel Messages During Coachella Sets
The Irish rap group Kneecap continued to ignite controversy at Coachella's second weekend by criticizing Israel for its ongoing war in Gaza and leading a 'free Palestine' chant during their set. The band also projected anti-Israel messages on the Sonora tent backdrop. The projections were apparently also used during the festival's first weekend and led to the livestream of the band's set being cut off; on the second weekend, the Sonora tent's sets were not livestreamed, presumably due to those messages. More from Variety Dave Grohl and Cynthia Erivo Join Dudamel and the LA Phil for Coachella Weekend 2 Performance Lady Gaga Apologizes for Mic Malfunctions During Coachella Weekend 2 Set: 'At Least You Know I Sing Live' Coachella Livestream Schedule: How and When to Stream the Weekend 2 Performances 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,' the projections read. 'It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. Fuck Israel; free Palestine.' While the outcry during weekend one was relatively limited, on weekend two it was much larger. Multiple commentators online called for Coachella organizers Goldenvoice and parent company AEG Presents to comment. Reps for the two companies did not immediately respond to Variety's requests for comment. Last week, the band claimed on X that Coachella had censored their protest, but assured the festival over social media that they would be 'back next Friday' and it would 'be sorted.' During their weekend two set, the band started a 'free, free Palestine chant,' and stated 'the Irish are not so longer persecuted under the Brits, but we were never bombed under the fucking skies with nowhere to go.' Kneecap were not the only artists to display pro-Palestinian messages at the festival; British punk duo Bob Vylan displayed a Palestinian flag during their set weekend one and commented on Gaza as well. That group also performed in the Sonora tent; it is unclear whether it voiced similar messages Former Justin Bieber/Ariana Grande manager Scooter Braun, who last year staged an exhibit in Israel and Los Angeles about Hamas' October 7 attacks in Israel, defended Goldenvoice founder Paul Tollett on social media. 'This is my friend Paul Tollett, the founder of [Coachella],' Braun wrote in an Instagram post Sunday. 'He is someone who lives and breathes the festival community. He fights for artists and he fights for all people. When I invited him to the opening of the Nova music exhibit in Los Angeles, he was the first person from the industry to accept. He came on his own time and spent five hours in the exhibit and then met with survivors of nova and invited them to the festival this year as his guest. He cried with them, he laughed with them, and he continues to advocate for them. Let's not lose sight of who this man is, and let us stand with him in this moment when a group, without his knowing, took advantage of his festival and created hate in a place that's filled with love.' Variety will have more on the situation as it develops. Last week, the band claimed on X that Coachella had censored their protest, but assured the festival over social media that they would be 'back next Friday' and it would 'be sorted.' During their weekend two set, the band started a 'free, free Palestine chant,' and stated 'the Irish are not so longer persecuted under the Brits, but we were never bombed under the fucking skies with nowhere to go.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Irish Rap Group Kneecap Projects Aggressive Pro-Palestine, Anti-Israel Messages During Coachella Sets
The Irish rap group Kneecap continued to ignite controversy at Coachella's second weekend by criticizing Israel for its ongoing war in Gaza and leading a 'free Palestine' chant during their set. The band also projected anti-Israel messages on the Sonora tent backdrop. The projections were apparently also used during the festival's first weekend and led to the livestream of the band's set being cut off; on the second weekend, the Sonora tent's sets were not livestreamed, presumably due to those messages. More from Variety Dave Grohl and Cynthia Erivo Join Dudamel and the LA Phil for Coachella Weekend 2 Performance Lady Gaga Apologizes for Mic Malfunctions During Coachella Weekend 2 Set: 'At Least You Know I Sing Live' Coachella Livestream Schedule: How and When to Stream the Weekend 2 Performances 'Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,' the projections read. 'It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. Fuck Israel; free Palestine.' While the outcry during weekend one was relatively limited, on weekend two it was much larger. Multiple commentators online called for Coachella organizers Goldenvoice and parent company AEG Presents to comment. Reps for the two companies did not immediately respond to Variety's requests for comment. Last week, the band claimed on X that Coachella had censored their protest, but assured the festival over social media that they would be 'back next Friday' and it would 'be sorted.' During their weekend two set, the band started a 'free, free Palestine chant,' and stated 'the Irish are not so longer persecuted under the Brits, but we were never bombed under the fucking skies with nowhere to go.' Kneecap were not the only artists to display pro-Palestinian messages at the festival; British punk duo Bob Vylan displayed a Palestinian flag during their set weekend one and commented on Gaza as well. That group also performed in the Sonora tent; it is unclear whether it voiced similar messages Former Justin Bieber/Ariana Grande manager Scooter Braun, who last year staged an exhibit in Israel and Los Angeles about Hamas' October 7 attacks in Israel, defended Goldenvoice founder Paul Tollett on social media. 'This is my friend Paul Tollett, the founder of [Coachella],' Braun wrote in an Instagram post Sunday. 'He is someone who lives and breathes the festival community. He fights for artists and he fights for all people. When I invited him to the opening of the Nova music exhibit in Los Angeles, he was the first person from the industry to accept. He came on his own time and spent five hours in the exhibit and then met with survivors of nova and invited them to the festival this year as his guest. He cried with them, he laughed with them, and he continues to advocate for them. Let's not lose sight of who this man is, and let us stand with him in this moment when a group, without his knowing, took advantage of his festival and created hate in a place that's filled with love.' Variety will have more on the situation as it develops. Last week, the band claimed on X that Coachella had censored their protest, but assured the festival over social media that they would be 'back next Friday' and it would 'be sorted.' During their weekend two set, the band started a 'free, free Palestine chant,' and stated 'the Irish are not so longer persecuted under the Brits, but we were never bombed under the fucking skies with nowhere to go.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
