Irish rap band Kneecap is in big hot water as a video is circulating in which one of its members calls on his fans to kill their local Member of Parliament (MP). The statement has been labeled by Kneecap as a “moment of hysteria”, but the damage has already been done, as it even led to the counterterrorism police having to get involved.
Indeed, while there are many who want to support the group, many who claim that the whole situation is exaggerated, and Kneecap even claim that this is a smear campaign against them, there are also many others who want to see the band facing repercussions. This includes the cancellation of their concerts, incoming scheduled events in Germany are now cancelled, and even the group’s slot at Glastonbury in the summer is also in jeopardy.
According to BBC News, there is now a joint statement in support of Kneecap in the wild with the following wording: “Whether we agree with Kneecap’s political views is irrelevant: it is in the paramount interest of every artist that all creative expression be protected in a society that values culture, and that this campaign of interference be condemned and ridiculed.”
The statement has been supported by Bicep, Annie Mac, The Pogues, Primal Scream and several others.