Love Music Hate Racism has voiced its support for the Irish rap group Kneecap, while Toddla T has criticized a reported attempt to remove the band from the Glastonbury 2025 lineup.

These declarations follow a wave of controversy surrounding the trio, stemming from their Coachella performance, which reportedly “blindsided” festival organizers with its pro-Palestinian messages, and the resurfacing of footage from 2024 concerts, where they allegedly displayed a flag in support of Hezbollah, a designated terrorist organization.

Consequently, Mo Chara was charged with a terror offense by the Metropolitan Police, and several live performances were cancelled. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 18.

Kneecap has consistently denied any support for Hamas or Hezbollah, asserting that they do not incite or condone violence. They have also claimed that the footage from the UK shows was taken out of context, dismissing the legal action as a “carnival of distraction.” The band further used their headline set at London’s Wide Awake festival to reiterate their support for Palestine and condemn efforts to silence them before their Glastonbury appearance.

Love Music Hate Racism has now joined those supporting the group, releasing a statement online encouraging people to gather at Westminster for the court appearance and demand the charges against MO Chara be dropped.

Love Music Hate Racism’s Stance

“Love Music Hate Racism stands with Kneecap against the attempts to silence them for

“Love Music Hate racism stands with Kneecap against the attempts to silence them for speaking out for Palestine,” the organization stated. “We urge everyone to show their support by attending the court hearing at Westminster.”

The statement emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression and artistic license, especially when addressing political and social issues. love Music Hate Racism argues that Kneecap’s music and performances are a form of protest and should be protected under the principles of free speech.

Controversies and Cancellations

despite the support from various groups and individuals, Kneecap has faced significant backlash, leading to the cancellation of several performances. The band was dropped from the line-ups of Germany’s Hurricane Festival and Southside Festivals, Cornwall’s Eden Project, and scotland’s TRNSMT. These cancellations were attributed to safety concerns and the controversy surrounding the band’s alleged support for proscribed organizations.

However, Kneecap did perform at Wide Awake Festival in London, following a warm-up show at the city’s 100 Club, where MO Chara appeared with tape over his mouth after the terror charge.

Looking ahead, 2000trees has confirmed that Kneecap will headline in 2025,and Bilbao BBK Live recently added the group to their lineup after their TRNSMT slot was cancelled.