Irish rap group Kneecap recently made headlines for a very pro-Palestine message during their Coachella 2025 performance. Some backdrops during the band’s set included “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people” and “Fuck Israel, free Palestine.” This has angered Sharon Osbourne, who apparently has no idea that all art is political.
Osbourne took to Instagram to call out Kneecap, as well as Coachella organizers Goldenvoice for not pulling the band during a second performance. Because nothing says “free speech” quite like asking a festival to pull a band because you don’t like their message, right?
It’s also worth noting that Tom Morello is acting as musical director for Black Sabbath‘s final show, yet has been extremely vocal in his support of Palestine. But I guess that’s fine and Kneecap isn’t? Got it. Makes perfect sense.
Oh, and one more thing. Sharon ends her rant by saying “I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap‘s work visa.” Are you fucking serious? Sharon wants to revoke a work visa because someone doesn’t agree with her? That’s mental.
Anyway, here’s all the schlock that Osbourne managed to type out.
“Coachella 2025 will be remembered as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity. Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression. Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements. Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support terrorist organizations.
“This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA. Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was unaware of Kneecap‘s political intentions when they were booked. However, after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence. Scooter Braun, who has been involved in organizing the Nova Music Festival exhibit—a tribute to the victims of the October 7th attacks in Israel—has defended Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett as he attended the Nova Exhibit.
“If Tollett visited the Nova exhibit, he would have seen the portraits of every person that was killed that day and heard some of their voices on cell phone recordings, sent home to their loved ones. It is difficult to comprehend how if somebody saw this exhibit firsthand that they could book a band on their festival that is in support of what was done that day and supports the group responsible for this mass murder.
“Not one IDF solider was killed that day, just 1400 innocent civilians. The Independent Artists Group, which represents Kneecap, includes individuals of Jewish heritage. It is disheartening that they have not used their positions to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages. As someone with both Irish Catholic on my Mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my Fathers side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved. I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap‘s work visa.”
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