Emily Eavis insists ‘everyone’s welcome’ at Glastonbury after Kneecap backlash

Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis has addressed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s comments on Kneecap’s performance at the festival.

 Kneecap made pro-Palestine statements at Coachella in April this year, causing critics like Sharon Osbourne decried Kneecap’s set as ‘promoting terrorist organizations or spreading hate’.

Around the same time, resurfaced footage of a 2024 Kneecap gig in London resulted in band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh being charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah. 

Though the musician was released on bail, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer later said in response to a question about the group’s performance at the festival, taking place on the West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday: ‘I don’t think that’s appropriate.’

Today, Eavis spoke to BBC Breakfast about the Prime Minister’s comment.

She was asked: ‘You are very used to people picking over every aspect of the lineup but the prime minister got involved this time, saying it wasn’t appropriate for Kneecap to be playing, how have you responded to that?’

Eavis replied: ‘We haven’t responded to that. At the moment we’re just focusing on bringing the best festival to the people who want to come here. We’re incredibly lucky that so many people want to come to Glastonbury, we have millions of people who want to come.’

The interviewer followed up, insisting: ‘But it’s quite a thing for the prime minister to comment, how did you react? How did you feel?’

‘I know, it is, there have been a lot of really heated topics this year, but we remain a platform for many, many artists from all over the world and, you know, everyone is welcome here,’ she said in response.

Kneecap replied to the Prime Minister’s comments as well, writing on social media: In their response, Kneecap shared a screenshot of the interview and wrote: ‘You know what’s “not appropriate” Keir?! Arming a fucking genocide… solidarity with [Palestinian Action].’

Irvine Welsh, acclaimed novelist known for works like Trainspotting, also recently called the government’s opposition to Kneecap a ‘total embarrassment.’

In a new essay published by The Face, Welsh wrote of Kneecap’s Palestine advocacy: ‘Three young musicians from Derry and West Belfast are bringing this to our attention,’ and were ‘pointing to this line in the sand that we shouldn’t cross.’

He continued: ‘And when all the British state can do in response is persecute a band for this – to try to stop them from playing music and from touring internationally with these ridiculous, nonsensical charges – it really is just an embarrassment to us all.

‘A total embarrassment. It makes you feel embarrassed to be breathing the same air as the people who try to do this, who try to silence these voices.’

Welsh isn’t the only one supporting Kneecap, with several artists and signing a joint statement in support of the band.

Primal Scream, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, The Jam frontman Paul Weller, Massive Attack, Pulp and Fontaines D.C are among many who signed the open letter by the group’s record label, Heavenly Recordings.

The statement said there had been a ‘clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform’ the band.

It alleged that many political figures have ‘openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye.’

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