Kneecap’s performance at this year’s Glastonbury festival is not likely to be broadcast live on the BBC following the controversy surrounding band member Mo Chara
Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance currently will not be broadcast on the BBC.
Despite complaints, the group are still set to perform on the West Holts stage on Saturday, however it seems unlikely that their performance will be broadcast by the BBC as there are no listings indicating their set.
The BBC’s TV coverage of Glastonbury is due to begin on BBC Two at 5pm with Kneecap scheduled for 4pm-5pm, just before the broadcast starts.
Although iPlayer coverage is available throughout the festival with highlights shown each day in the evenings on BBC One, the band is not listed by the platform. The BBC’s schedule can be altered up to and even during the festival, but so far there is no sign of Kneecap.
A spokesperson for the BBC told Yahoo UK: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.”
The band’s slot at Glastonbury was under scrutiny. Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh has appeared in court, charged with for allegedly waving a flag in support of the banned terrorist group Hezbollah and chanting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a performance last November.
O hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was greeted with cheers from hundreds of fans as he and his bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh turned up at Westminster Magistrates’ Court sporting “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts.
Speaking from Westminster, he told fans: “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,” reports the Mirror.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also commented on the situation. When questioned by the Sun about whether he thinks the band should perform at the festival, he responded: “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.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
