Following their pro-Palestine remarks at Coachella, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he didn’t believe it was “appropriate” for Irish band Kneecap to play at Glastonbury.
Glastonbury boss Emily Eavis has broken her silence surrounding controversial Irish band Kneecap. The group from Belfast hit the headlines after making pro-Palestine comments at Coachella in April after band member, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig in November.
Though Liam has been released on bail, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said it was “not appropriate” for the Guilty Conscience stars to perform at Glastonbury on the West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday. However, giving her opinion on the divisive band, Emily, said “everyone is welcome”.
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Talking to the BBC as the festival flung open its doors to thousands of revellers today, 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?”
Emily responded, “We haven’t responded to that.” We’re just trying to bring the best festival to those who want to visit right now. We have millions of visitors and are incredibly fortunate that there are so many people who want to attend Glastonbury.
However, she was then questioned about her reaction to the statement, “But it’s quite a thing for the Prime Minister to comment. What did you think?”
Looking somewhat irritated, Emily said: “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.”
Kneecap reacted to the Prime Minister’s comments on social media by saying, “You know what’s “not appropriate” Keir? armed with a f*****g genocide… solidarity with [Palestinian Action].
Irvine Welsh, a novelist for Trainspotting, also criticized the prime minister for “absolutely embarrassment.”
Three young musicians from Derry and West Belfast are bringing this up to our attention in a new essay published by The Face, Irvine wrote.
“It really is just an embarrassment to us all when all the British state can do is persecute a band for this, to try to stop them from playing music and from touring internationally with these ridiculous, nonsensical charges,” the statement reads.
“A total embarrassment,” You feel embarrassed that you are trying to silence these voices because you are breathing the same air as those who do this.
Liam g hAnnaidh, a bandmate of Kneecap, is accused of raising a flag in front of a crowd that suggested he might be supporting Hezbollah, a group that is listed as prohibited. In a sarcastic post on X, Kneecap criticized the case against their bandmate as a “witch hunt.”
A billboard with the headline “Mo Chara]Liam’s stage name” was displayed earlier this month in striking images outside Westminster Magistrate’s Court.
Due to the delay in the terror charge case until August 20, the Kneecap star has been freed on bail.
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Source: Mirror
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