Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap made quite the impression with their Coachella debut, using their set to protest the Israel-Hamas War‘s devastating impact on Palestine.
The group has sparked backlash after their Weekend 2 performance on Friday at the Sonora stage, during which they projected “fuck Israel,” “free Palestine” and other messages of protest against US support of the Israel-Hamas war.
“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes,” the text read in photos shared on X by the group. “Fuck Israel. Free Palestine.”
After Coachella’s YouTube Live stream of their set was reportedly cut when they started an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant, the band wrote on X, “Not the only thing that was cut – our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either. Back next Friday Coachella and it’ll be sorted. Grma to everyone who packed out the tent.”
Deadline has reached out to Coachella for comment.
Record executive Scooter Braun was one of many people to respond to Kneecap’s protest, sharing a photo of Coachella co-founder Paul Tollett at the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, which Braun created to honor the hundreds who died in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.
“This is my friend Paul Tollett, the founder of @coachella,” he captioned the post. “He is someone who lives and breathes the festival community. He fights for artists and he fights for all people. When I invited him to the opening of the Nova music exhibit in Los Angeles, he was the first person from the industry to accept. He came on his own time and spent five hours in the exhibit and then met with survivors of nova and invited them to the festival this year as his guest. He cried with them, he laughed with them, and he continues to advocate for them.”
Braun continued, “Let’s not lose sight of who this man is, and let us stand with him in this moment when a group, without his knowing, took advantage of his festival and created hate in a place that’s filled with love.”
Political commentator Hasan Piker showed his support for the group, sharing a backstage video from the moment. “had a great time with @kneecap32 at coachella!” he wrote on Instagram. “you cannot silence the truth. cry harder, your tears mean nothing when we have seen what you cheer!!!”
Headliners for Coachella 2025 include Lady Gaga, Green Day and Post Malone, also featuring performances by Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, Zedd, Shaboozey, Ty Dolla Sign, Misfits, Prodigy, FKA Twigs and Jimmy Eat World.