Kneecap have shared a statement outright refusing any claims they ‘support Hamas and Hezbollah’ as police investigation continues.
The Irish rap group, made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, has accused ‘establishment figures’ of trying to ‘manufacture moral hysteria’ after being referred to the Counter Terrorism Referral Unit (CTIRU) for two separate incidents.
The first reportedly occurred in November 2023, where recovered footage appears to show the Get Your Brits Out creators saying: ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP’ at a gig.
More footage from November 2024 also appears to show them voicing support for Hamas and Hezbollah, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the music artists of ‘glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred’ and approval of the police investigation.
Now, after previously releasing a statement to push back against backlash to their pro-Palestine Coachella display, they have now responded to these latest allegations.
The statement read: ‘Let us be unequivocal: We do not, and have never, supported Hamaz or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians. It is never okay.
‘We know this more than anyone given our nation’s history. We also reject any suggestion we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever.’
They claimed the footage clips had been ‘taken out of context’, ‘exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.’
And extended ‘heartfelt apologies’ to the families of late Conservative MP Sir David Amess and late Labour MP Jo Cox, who were both murdered, saying they ‘never intended to cause hurt’.
Kneecap said their message is always one of ‘love, inclusion, and hope’ with their music ‘resonating across generations’ as they questioned the ‘avalanche of outrage and condemnation from the political classes of Britain’ after their Coachella performance.
Elsewhere in the lengthy statement, the group doubled down on their criticism towards Israel and the British government’s military support, saying they are abetting ‘slaughter and famine’.
A Metropolitan police spokesperson has previously said: ‘We were made aware of a video on April 22, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.
‘We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.’
During Kneecap’s second weekend at the Calfornian music festival they projected the message: ‘F**k Israel’ and ‘Free Palestine’ as the crowd chanted ‘Free, free Palestine’.
Figures like Sharon Osbourne called for the trio’s work visas to be rescinded among pushback, but Kneecap reiterated their stance in multiple interviews and statements following the performance.
Fellow artists like Macklemore and Garbage voiced their support for Kneecap after last week’s statement in which they accused critics of ‘coordinating a smear campaign.’
‘We are taking action against several of these malicious efforts,’ the artists said at the time.
During the group’s first weekend at Coachella, its criticism of the former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in which they encouraged the crowd to sing ‘Maggive in a box’ was cut from the festival’s live stream.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.