In the course of the first weekend of Coachella 2025, Irish rap trio Kneecap led “Free Palestine” and anti-Margaret Thatcher chants that have been minimize 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 teams directed at competition organizer Goldenvoice for the band’s actions, The Hollywood Reporter has printed a report claiming CEO Paul Tollett was “blindsided” by the incident.
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It’s value noting that units on the Sonora tent weren’t livestreamed by way of Coachella’s official channels throughout weekend two, however Kneecap introduced out streamer Hasan Piker to broadcast their protest on Twitch. “Israel is committing genocide in opposition to the Palestinian individuals,” one other message learn on their stage screens. “It’s being enabled by the US authorities who arm and fund Israel regardless of their warfare crimes.”
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Mo Chara additionally paused Kneecap’s efficiency for a short speech. “The Irish not so way back have been persecuted by the hands of the Brits, however we have been by no means bombed from the fucking skies with nowhere to go,” he mentioned. “The Palestinians have nowhere to go, it’s their fucking residence they usually’re bombing them from the skies.”
“When you’re not calling it a genocide what the fuck are you calling it?” he added, earlier than main a “Free, free Palestine” chant.
In response to Kneecap’s efficiency, the pro-Israel nonprofit Artistic Neighborhood for Peace shared an announcement from govt director Ari Ingel: “Festivals equivalent to Coachella are supposed to deliver individuals collectively to have a good time music and life, as a substitute they allowed the competition to devolve right into a discussion board of hate — platforming a band that praised a terrorist group that carried out the most important bloodbath in music historical past. At a time of report ranges of antisemitism, it’s outrageous that AEG and Goldenvoice allowed this to occur.”
Disturbed lead vocalist David Draiman, who’s Jewish, responded to Kneecap on social media. “Right here’s some uncensored messaging for you pathetic, advantage signaling morons,” he wrote, alongside a photograph of him holding up a center finger. “Am Yisrael Chai sweethearts.”
Kneecap have persistently stood with Palestine by quite a few social media statements and actions like boycotting SXSW 2024 after they realized the US Military and a protection contractor that has equipped weapons to Israel have been sponsoring the competition.
Extra just lately, they condemned Israel for breaking the Gaza ceasefire and cited the assault on No Different Land director Hamdan Ballal by Israeli settlers as the newest occasion of a “whole and brutal occupation on each stage possible.” They added, “FUCK US-BACKED ISRAEL.”
Some uncensored messaging to Coachella 🤝🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/WbHZBrCZl5
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 19, 2025
Mo chara talking to 1000’s of Individuals at coachella.
The younger individuals of America do not help genocide, get out on the streets and present this to that cunt Trump. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/fExyAn7GA6
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 19, 2025