Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says BBC ‘should not show' Kneecap at Glastonbury

©Associated Press
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said she thinks the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury Festival next week.
The 45-year-old made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November last year.

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Sunday World

3 hours ago

• Sunday World

BBC ‘should not show' Kneecap at Glastonbury, Tory leader says

'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism' The 45-year-old made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year. Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday Ms Badenoch said in the X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: 'The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. 'One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. 'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.' Kneecap will perform at Glastonbury Festival next week (Brian Lawless/PA) The Tory leader of the Opposition has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. Kneecap took aim at Ms Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May, with the song mocking the politician's attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss. On Wednesday, O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts. During the proceedings, the court heard the 27-year-old is 'well within his rights' to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a 'wholly different thing'. O hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20. Following the hearing, the rapper said: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. 'If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. 'But most importantly: free, free Palestine.' Kemi Badenoch (inset) has said the BBC should "not be showing Kneecap propaganda" Chaotic scenes as Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh arrives at court The charge came after a counter terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs. In April, Kneecap apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'. In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. Read more 'We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? 'To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. 'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. 'The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.' Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. The BBC has been contacted for comment.

The Journal

3 hours ago

• The Journal

UK Tory leader says BBC should not to broadcast Kneecap's Glastonbury set

UK CONSERVATIVE PARTY leader Kemi Badenoch believes the BBC should not broadcast Belfast rap group Kneecap's Glastonbury performance next week. Badenoch, posting to social media, said as a publicly-funded broadcaster, the BBC should not show Kneecap's gig when one member, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is accused of charges under the British Terrorism Act. Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday , charged with allegedly displaying a flag of the proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a concert last November. He was released on unconditional bail to appear before a judge again in August . His defence team signalled that they will be contesting the charges , and the band has said the accusations are politically-motivated. Advertisement The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. As a publicly funded platform the BBC should not be rewarding extremism. — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 21, 2025 Badenoch, who as the UK's culture minister in the last British government stripped the band of its public funding before a court overturned the decision, shared images of an article detailing that the BCC would broadcast Kneecap's set. She accused the BBC of showing what she called 'Kneecap propaganda' and claimed that by choosing to broadcast the gig, it would be 'rewarding extremism'. The band recently mocked the Tory party leader in their latest single, The Recap. The BBC, an independent public service broadcaster, has been contacted for comment. With reporting by Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Irish Independent

4 hours ago

• Irish Independent

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says BBC ‘should not show' Kneecap at Glastonbury

©Associated Press Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said she thinks the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury Festival next week. The 45-year-old made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November last year.