A group of Indigenous leaders are pushing for the cancellation of shows featuring the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, arguing the rappers glorify terrorism and promote antisemitism.
“Kneecap has outwardly supported antisemitism, genocide, and the indiscriminate murder of civilians. Allowing them to play in Canada would be a stain on our country’s reputation,” says the letter, signed by nine Indigenous leaders in Canada.
Kneecap, a Belfast-based trio comprised of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (who performs under the name Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap) and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), has seen a number of concerts cancelled amid the band’s outspoken support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel.
Ó hAnnaidh faces charges under the British Terrorism Act for allegedly waving the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese terror group, last November. (He is out on bail.)
“We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction,” the group wrote on social media, according to al Jazeera.
The letter argues that Kneecap, having allegedly voiced support for Hezbollah and Hamas, should not be allowed to play in Canada on Indigenous land.
“By allowing Kneecap to perform on Indigenous lands, Live Nation and the MRG Group are not only endorsing rhetoric that promotes division, hate, and glorification of terror — they are violating the spirit and obligations of the Treaties of Peace and Friendship,” the letter states. (The peace and friendship treaties were a series of treaties signed between the British and the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy people prior to 1779.)
Kneecap has four shows planned for Canada, two in Toronto and two in Vancouver. All four October shows are sold out. The signatories of the letter are calling on Live Nation, the concert promoted, and MRG Group, which manages the venues where Kneecap is playing: History in Toronto and the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver.
Concerts elsewhere have been scrapped and politicians have called for further cancellations since Kneecap played a set at California’s Coachella music festival in April and accused Israel of committing genocide, something the Jewish state has vehemently denied. The group has also compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to the actions of the British in Ireland during the Troubles.
“The Irish not so long ago were persecuted by the Brits, but we were never bombed from the f–king skies with nowhere to go! The Palestinians have nowhere to go – it’s their f–king home and they’re bombing them from the sky. If you’re not calling it a genocide what the f–k are you calling it?” Ó hAnnaidh
News reports have also cited video from a 2023 concert that appears to show a band member saying “Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah” and another that allegedly
: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Grand Chief Harvey Yesno, one of the signatories of the letter and the former chief of Eabametoong First Nation and grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, said that part of the reason Indigenous leaders are speaking out is to reassert their voices within Canada.
“We’re in a land of freedom to express yourself … so that’s allowed throughout the country. But the difference is, is when you’re inciting hate and violence and acknowledging who — Canada has put some of these organizations as terrorist organizations. That’s where we draw the line,” said Yesno. “So, our concern there is the defilement of the land, because we believe that, as the Indigenous people on these lands, that we have a responsibility to point out, hey, wait a minute, you can’t be doing that. You can’t be inciting violence here on our lands because the defilement of the land causes things to happen amongst the people.”
Yesno said the group has yet to receive a response from the concert organizers. The signatories are largely involved with Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem, an international group of Indigenous people from various countries that expresses Indigenous solidarity with Israel.
In late June, Kneecap played a show at England’s Glastonbury Festival, despite Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, saying it would be inappropriate. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the U.K. Conservative Party, called on the British Broadcasting Corporation to not broadcast Kneecap’s show; the public broadcaster demurred, saying it does not ban artists.
“It’s not about us, it’s about distraction and a loud warning to other acts to stay silent or we will try silence you,” Kneecap wrote on X.
Kneecap could not be reached for comment. Live Nation and MRG Group did not respond to National Post’s request for comment.
Let’s not loose sight of why the entire political class of Britain and their media are so “outraged” about Kneecap and have no outrage for a mass slaughter of children👇
You cannot tell the truth at Coachella.
It’s not about us, it’s about distraction and a loud warning to… pic.twitter.com/nNdLw7njwK
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 30, 2025
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