Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance won’t be broadcast live by the BBC.
The Irish rap trio are playing the festival’s West Holts stage at 4pm on Saturday (June 28). PM Keir Starmer previously claimed the group’s Glasto gig “wasn’t “appropriate” in light of Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh’s terrorism charge.
While the group’s controversial appearance at the festival will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, the broadcaster has confirmed the set won’t be shown live. 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.”
(Image: PA)
The band took to X to announce their set would be shown on iPlayer later in the evening. They addressed “a chairde Gael” – which means “Gaelic friends” – and 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.”
It comes as Glasto bosses warned fans about the group’s set as they’ll draw a large crowd. They said, per the Mirror: “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.
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
“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.”
It comes as Liam Og O hAnnaidh was placed on unconditional bail facing a terror charge. He and the band attended Westminster Magistrate’s court earlier this month – and were met by crowds of supporters, including music legend Paul Weller.
The 27-year-old star, who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged by the Met Police with allegedly supporting a terrorist organisation. The Irish musician has been accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
The court heard the musician is “well within his rights” to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a “wholly different thing”.
The charges were brought against the musician, from Belfast, last month after counter-terror officers assessed a clip reported to be from a Kneecap gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on November 21. Kneecap have claimed they have never supported Hezbollah or Hamas and on social media wrote: “We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves.”
During the hearing, the allegations against O hAnnaidh were summarised by prosecutor Michael Bisgrove, who said: “It’s not about Mr O hAnnaidh’s support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel. He’s well within his rights to voice his opinions and solidarity, as is anybody else.
“The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O hAnnaidh wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, while saying ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’.
“Of course, support for the one is not the same as support for the other. So the issue in this case, and the reason it has come to court, it centres on the apparent support by Mr O hAnnaidh of a proscribed terrorist organisation.”
Outside court following the hearing, O hAnnaidh’s bandmate, Mr O Caireallain, led the huge crowds in chants of “Free Palestine”. Mr O Caireallain 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.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
