Kneecap are reportedly within the means of securing a brand new sponsor for renewed US visas forward of their upcoming October US tour.
The visas held by the band are regarded as not legitimate, after they had been reportedly dropped by their former sponsor and reserving agent Impartial Artist Group (IAG) earlier this week, per The Hollywood Reporter.
It comes following wider controversy surrounding their efficiency at Coachella 2025, which has generated mainstream consideration over the previous week.
The trio made headlines on Coachella’s weekend one, after the dwell stream of their set was minimize when they voiced their help for a free Palestine, and in addition led the gang in a provocative anti-Margaret Thatcher chant. “Not solely was that minimize,” they later mentioned, referring to the Thatcher chorus, “our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza one way or the other by no means appeared on screens both.”
On the second weekend, the band supplied their very own livestream, with political commentator Hasan Piker broadcasting their set dwell on Twitch. Slogans together with “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine”, “Israel is committing genocide towards the Palestinian folks” and “it’s being enabled by the US authorities who arm and fund Israel regardless of their warfare crimes” had been projected on the display screen behind them as they performed.
Following the efficiency, Coachella organisers reportedly mentioned they had been “blindsided” by the band’s pro-Palestinian messages and chants on the competition. Shortly after that, Sharon Osbourne known as for a “revocation” of their work visa, claiming their efficiency “compromised” the competition’s “ethical and non secular integrity”. The band responded in disbelief, calling Osbourne’s assertion “fucking wild”.
The trio’s US performances are reportedly permitted underneath work visas granted to its members underneath sponsorship of accredited organisations, comparable to IAG or different reserving brokers and business corporations.
Per PA, Kneecap’s visas, which are actually not legitimate because of IAG ceasing to work with them, had been because of expire over the summer time months between Coachella and the band’s subsequent US appearances.
Because the members of Kneecap are reportedly not presently within the US, and wouldn’t have gigs scheduled there till the tour in October, the group must re-apply for an annual allow.
They’re entitled to use for a brand new visa and are reportedly aiming to take action underneath a distinct sponsor forward of their upcoming tour within the US and Canada, which is in help of their acclaimed 2024 debut studio album, ‘High-quality Artwork’.
At present, not one of the tour dates have been impacted or cancelled, with all performances nonetheless scheduled. You’ll find a full record of tour dates right here and any remaining tickets right here.
It does stay doable that the group’s utility for brand spanking new visas could also be rejected by US authorities forward of the reveals.
On Friday (April 25), the band issued an announcement addressing their efficiency and the next backlash, calling the controversy “a coordinated smear marketing campaign” towards their efforts in “exposing the continued genocide towards the Palestinian folks”.
“For over a 12 months, we’ve got used our reveals to name out the British and Irish governments’ complicity in warfare crimes,” they continued. “The latest assaults towards us, largely emanating from the US, are primarily based on deliberate distortions and falsehoods,” they mentioned, including that they’re “taking motion towards a number of of those malicious efforts”.
Earlier this week, the group shared messages of help despatched by followers following the competition. Amongst them is one from a retired British Royal Navy officer, which reads: “I really like your music. Free Palestine. Fuck the haters”, whereas one other says: “As a Palestinian in exile I need to thanks from the underside of my coronary heart for giving us a voice on the world stage.”
Kneecap’s long-standing help of Palestine has included latest social media posts and high-profile TV appearances. Of their Cowl function for NME final 12 months, they made their stance towards what they name Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Gaza clear, and went on to assist elevate practically £100,000 for a volunteer health club within the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine.
Extra not too long ago, they hit out at Israel for breaking the Gaza ceasefire in a “slaughter” towards the “most susceptible folks on earth”. It adopted the ‘Higher Means To Dwell’ artists slamming the Prime Minister of Eire, calling Micheál Martin a “lick-arse” and “scumbag” after his latest go to to the White Home to satisfy US President Donald Trump.
Again in January, when their movie was unnoticed of the Oscar nominations in January regardless of having been longlisted, the band responded by tweeting: “Fuck the Oscars. Free Palestine.”
Their response was according to their response to the information of a ceasefire in Gaza on January 16, the place they posted “we should not neglect what Israel has accomplished”.
In addition they posted not too long ago in response to articles written about their “aggressive” Coachella set saying “honesty isn’t aggressive, fucking bombs are.”
Final 12 months, the band shared their ’10 guidelines to dwell by’, which included: “Be outspoken, go away your mark and get up to your folks. Arise for Palestine, and get up for oppressed folks world wide.”
Consistent with this rule, in November, Bap raised over £30,000 for Gaza meals parcels by operating 10k a day on tour, the trio made headlines for refusing to take off their Palestine badges in an look on Eire’s Late Late Present, and organized a Gig for Gaza charity present alongside Primal Scream and Paul Weller.
