LAST UPDATE | 29 Apr

KNEECAP HAVE HAD a gig in the UK cancelled following widespread backlash by a number of politicians in the UK for comments they made in resurfaced videos from their earlier shows.

This morning, the band apologised to the family of a murdered Tory MP and said they do not support Hamas or Hezbollah .

The group have slammed at the same time what they describe as a “smear campaign” against them over their support for Palestine.

Footage of the Belfast rap trio at two separate gigs was sent to the Metropolitan Police last week and taken up by its counter-terrorism internet referral unit for examination.

One of the videos appeared to show a member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, whilst the other appeared to show a member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

Kneecap was due to perform at the Eden Project on 4 July. The Eden Sessions are a series of concerts that take place at the Cornwall botanical gardens each year. 

A spokesperson for the Eden Project said that ticket-holders will be refunded. It did not give a reason for the cancellation.

This morning, Kneecap said that its detractors “want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide”.

“Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria,” it said.

However, it walked back its comments perceived to be supporting terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah and apologised to the families of two former British MPs who were murdered in recent years.

David Amess, a Conservative MP, was murdered in 2021, and Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was murdered in 2016. 

“Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history,” the group said in its statement.

“We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action,” they said.

“This distortion is not only absurd – it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation.”

In mounting political pressure on the band on both sides of the Irish Sea, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday that Kneecap should “urgently clarify” their views on Hamas and Hezbollah amid the police scrutiny of the footage from their gigs.

Several politicians in the UK, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, suggested the group should face prosecution for their remarks. 

KNEECAP STATEMENT:

They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide.

Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral… pic.twitter.com/qZht5532Zf

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 28, 2025

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper urged the promoters of gigs featuring the rap trio and their management to “take some responsibility”.

Cooper joined those condemning the band, telling Times Radio that the comments are a “total disgrace”.

“It’s dangerous and irresponsible to say these sorts of things, and I hope that everybody involved – not just the band – but also those involved surrounding them and those involved in events, also take some responsibility on this and looks very seriously at the consequences of these kinds of remarks, not just what’s been said,” Cooper said.

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Kneecap reiterated its support for Palestine amid the atrocities that Israel has committed in Gaza.

They criticised the British government for supplying arms to Israel even as it blocks imports of food into Gaza and the civilian death toll, including among children, continues to rise.

“Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of international law, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine. This is where real anger and outrage should be directed towards,” they said.

Addressing the loved ones of the politicians murdered in UK, Kneecap said: “To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.”

Kneecap said its message “has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope” and that “no smear campaign will change that”.

“Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain. The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power. Shame on them.”

Before the videos were sent to police, Kneecap had already been making headlines after performance at US music festival Coachella earlier this month, during which their screen displayed messages that included “Fuck Israel. Free Palestine.”

Kneecap’s manager has said the group’s members have received death threats over their Coachella performance.