Stanisland Magazine

What did the Irish rap trio say about Israel and Palestine? We answer all your questions.

Kneecap, the Irish rap group known for its politically charged lyrics and an Academy Award-nominated film, have stirred controversy at the American music festival, Coachella.

The music artists are not the first to comment on the situation, with many other celebrities using their platform to argue their position. They include Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Macklemore, Emma Watson, Bella & Gigi Hadid, Olivia Colman, Harriet Walter, Juliet Stevenson, Annie Lennox, Massive Attack, Rage Against the Machine, Zayn Malik, and Adele.

What Did Kneecap Say?

The band sparked outrage due to their global outlook, particularly in Israel and Palestine. Sharon Osbourne, wife of rock musician Ozzy Osbourne, condemned their actions as “anti-Israel hate speech” and called on the United States government to revoke their visa.

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The Irish trio played to thousands of revellers, encouraging the crowd to chant politically inflammatory messages, including one about Margaret Thatcher, goading the audience to say, “Maggie’s in a Box.”

But the group didn’t stop there. With strong feelings about the Israel-Palestine conflict, the collective formed of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí projected a message onto their stage screen that said: “F**k Israel. Free Palestine,” and “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.”

Sharon Osbourne Responds

Sharon Osbourne condemned their actions with a statement that read: “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.”

Citing the rock group Green Day, who changed the lyrics to a song to highlight the difficulty of life for children in Gaza, Osbourne remarked, “While I respect their right to express their opinions, such discussions would have been more appropriate at their own concert, not at a festival.”

She then turned her attention to the Irish hip-hop group. Angered by their performance, she said: “Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support terrorist organizations.” She then argued that the Independent Artists Group, Kneecap’s agency, should be more careful in choosing who to represent, as their employees include “individuals of Jewish heritage.”

She closed her statement on a personal note, adding: “As someone with both Irish Catholic on my mother’s side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my father’s side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved.” Her final words called for the musicians to have their work visas revoked.

Public and Political ReactionsThe response has been swift and fierce, with social media users quick to point out contradictions in Osbourne’s stance. One commenter said, “Lest we remind you that your husband made his millions from the anti-war protest song ‘War Pigs’? You’ve become what you hated.” Another said, “Shame on you for supporting and enabling Genocide by posting this on your platform.” Others lambasted her for falsely claiming Judaism is a race, and for wrongly using it as a “shield from criticism.”