Sharon Osbourne has called for the US work visas of the Irish rap group Kneecap to be revoked after their controversial performance at Coachella.
🎶 The Coachella Controversy
At Coachella’s second weekend, Kneecap, a west Belfast-based rap group, ended their set with a politically charged message. They projected the following statements on three screens:
- “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people”
- “It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes”
- “[Expletive] Israel. Free Palestine.”
The band’s performance, which was not live-streamed on Coachella’s official YouTube channel, has sparked outrage, with some accusing the group of promoting hate speech and terrorist rhetoric.
💬 Sharon Osbourne’s Response
In the wake of the performance, Osbourne took to social media, expressing her concerns about the political messaging at the festival. She wrote:
“Coachella 2025 will be remembered as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity. Goldenvoice, the festival organiser, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression. At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse.”
Osbourne went on to explain that music festivals like Coachella should bring people together, not become platforms for promoting controversial political views. She was particularly upset by Kneecap’s “aggressive political statements,” which she described as hate speech.
😤 The Role of Goldenvoice
Osbourne also called out Goldenvoice, the organiser of Coachella, for allegedly not knowing about Kneecap’s intentions before the festival. She suggested that, after seeing the group’s performance, the organisers should have cancelled their second set.
“Goldenvoice’s claim of being ‘blindsided’ by Kneecap’s performance seems implausible given the circumstances,” Osbourne added. She also criticised the music industry for failing to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages.
✋ A Call for Action
The heated debate continued with Osbourne urging her followers to support her in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa. She noted that the group’s support of terrorist organisations is unacceptable, especially in light of recent tragedies, and expressed disappointment in the Independent Artists Group for not stepping in to prevent this performance.
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Related: Trump’s Scottish golf course vandalised by pro-Palestine activists
