CONTROVERSIAL hip hop group Kneecap's Glastonbury set today will NOT be shown live on the BBC, the broadcaster has confirmed.
Festival bosses have already warned part of the grounds could be locked down during the Irish trio's performance this afternoon due to crowd surge concerns.
And now the Beeb has said it will "make an on-demand version" available, while the band itself posted that they've been told their set will be on "iPlayer later this evening".
It comes after PM Sir Keir Starmer said the rappers should not be allowed to perform at all amid frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh's terror charge.
The artist, 27, allegedly displayed a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a gig in November in Kentish Town, north London.
A BBC spokesperson said: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
"Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines.
"We don't always live stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets."
The band themselves addressed a post on X to "a chairde Gael" – which means "Gaelic friends" in which they said they'd been contacted by the "propaganda wing of the regime".
The post added: "They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the I-player later this evening for your viewing pleasure.
"The crowd expected today is far greater than West Holts capacity so you'll need to be very early to catch us father….VERY EARLY".
A festival statement released today warns: "Kneecap will draw a large audience for their 4pm West Holts show.
"If you're not planning to see them, please plan alternative routes around that area.
"If you do plan to attend, listen to stewards, and please have some other entertainment options in mind in case the field reaches capacity and we need to close it as part of our crowd planning measures."
Terror charge
Earlier this month the rapper – who performs under the stage name Mo Chara – and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh were mobbed by hundreds of fans outside Westminster Magistrates' Court.
He was released on unconditional bail – and is due at the same court on August 20 for the next hearing.
The group's much-anticipated appearance at Glastonbury has been criticised by PM Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
Mr Starmer said this week it is "not appropriate" for the group to perform at the festival, which started on Thursday.
Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thinks Kneecap should play, the PM said: "No I don't.
"I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate."
Ms Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the band's set in a post on social media.
Her post said: "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."
The band are not currently listed for live broadcast.
Avon and Somerset Police said: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby."
In response to the criminal charge, Kneecap said in a post: "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…
"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."
Hezbollah – founded in 1982 – is an Iran-backed Shiite militia.
The Lebanese terrorist organisation voiced support for the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023 before launching guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli-occupied positions the following day.
Israel has retaliated with strikes on Gaza – and the conflict remains ongoing, with thousands of people, including civilian children, killed.
Kneecap has said they "do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah", condemned all attacks on civilians, and alleged footage was "deliberately taken out of all context" as part of a "coordinated smear campaign" over their criticism of "the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people".
Post a Comment