Getty ImagesIrish rap group Kneecap have responded to criticism following calls for them to be axed from the TRNSMT festival line-up.
The Irish-language hip-hop trio have attracted condemnation from political figures after a clip from their show in 2023 saw one member tell the audience “kill your local MP”.
Footage from a previous gig where comments were made about Hamas and Hezbollah is being assessed by counter-terrorism police.
Speaking on Monday, John Swinney described the comments as “unacceptable”.
The SNP leader said: “I’m not familiar with the band Kneecap, but I’ve become aware of their comments.
“I think these comments are completely and utterly unacceptable and if they’re performing at TRNSMT, or proposed to be performing at TRNSMT, I think the organisers of TRNSMT have got to consider that issue.”
STV NewsThe group is due to headline King Tut’s stage on Friday, July 11, and has previously performed two sold-out shows at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow.
Issuing a response via social media on Tuesday, the band sent their “heartfelt apologies” to the Amess and Cox families, saying they “never intended to cause them hurt”.
Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed in June 2016, and Conservative MP David Amess was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in 2021.
The band wrote: “Kneecap’s message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs.
“No smear campaign will change that.
“Suddenly, days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain.
“The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power. Shame on them.”
The band, made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, claim they are facing a “co-ordinated smear campaign” after speaking out about “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.
In the statement, they added: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.
“We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.”
Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister believes the comments were “completely unacceptable” and “condemns them in the strongest possible terms”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Kneecap’s “anti-British hatred has no place in our society” as she called for them to face action.
Sue Webber, Conservative MSP for Lothian, told STV News: “I’m flabbergasted to learn that a band could be so crass in their language.
“To learn of the language they have been throwing around is absolutely despicable. I’m disgusted frankly.”
She added: “They need to be taken off that platform on the Friday night at TRNSMT.
“There’s no way they should be given the main stage or even a small stage at a music festival that is the pinnacle of Scottish culture for our young people.
“They should not be there whatsoever.”
On Sunday, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We were made aware of a video on April 22, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.
“We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.”
He also said the force “are assessing both to determine whether further police investigation is required”.
The counter-terrorism internet referral unit (CTIRU) is a national counter-terrorism policing unit based within the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command which is dedicated to identifying terrorist and extremist material online.
Police will carry out an investigation if the material breaches the law.
TRNSMT has been contacted for comment.
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