Tory leader says broadcaster ‘should not be rewarding extremism’ after band member charged with displaying Hezbollah flag
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a fierce attack on the BBC for planning to broadcast controversial rap group Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance, despite one member being on bail for terrorism charges.
The Tory leader said the publicly-funded broadcaster “should not be showing Kneecap propaganda” after band member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday charged with displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah.
The 27-year-old rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of waving the terror group’s flag while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig at London’s O2 Forum in Kentish Town last November.
‘Rewarding Extremism’
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Badenoch posted: “The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. As a publicly funded platform the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.
Her intervention came hours after O hAnnaidh was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court wearing sunglasses and holding a Keffiyeh – a shawl often worn by supporters of the pro-Palestine movement.
The rapper appeared alongside bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, all wearing “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts, as crowds surged around the court entrance with some entering the lobby.
Court Drama
During proceedings, the court heard the 27-year-old is “well within his rights” to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum is a “wholly different thing.
O hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20, and requested an Irish language interpreter for the trial.
In a defiant statement outside court, the rapper declared: “For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. If you can’t be there we’ll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We’ll be at Wembley in September.”
He then added: “But most importantly: free, free Palestine.”
History of Conflict
This isn’t the first clash between Badenoch and the Belfast trio. Last year, Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government after the then-Business Secretary tried to block them from receiving a £14,250 arts funding award.
A Belfast High Court ruled Badenoch’s decision was “unlawful and procedurally unfair” after she intervened to prevent the grant, with her spokesperson saying taxpayers’ money should not be given “to people who oppose the United Kingdom itself.
The band donated the £14,250 to two youth organisations in Belfast – one from a nationalist area on the Falls Road, and one from a unionist area on the Shankill Road.
Mocking The Minister
Kneecap took direct aim at Badenoch in their latest single, ‘The Recap’, released just before their headline set at London’s Wide Awake festival in May. The song openly mocks the politician’s attempts to block their arts funding and references the Conservative Party’s crushing election defeat.
The controversial Belfast rap trio, formed in 2017, are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English. Their best-known tracks include ‘Get Your Brits Out’, ‘Better Way To Live’ featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and ‘3Cag.
Celebrity Support
Despite the controversy, the band has garnered support from high-profile musicians. Paul Weller was spotted among the supporters outside court, having previously signed an open letter by Love Music Hate Racism rallying “against the attempts to silence [Kneecap] for speaking out for Gaza.
Others who have signed letters supporting the band include Tom Morello, Brian Eno, CMAT, Pulp, Fontaines D.C., IDLES, Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Enter Shikari, The Pogues, and Thin Lizzy.
BBC Response
A BBC spokesperson defended their position, stating: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
They added: “Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.”
The broadcaster has indicated Kneecap’s set could appear on a delayed broadcast, which would allow it to trim contentious language or limit coverage to safer tracks like ‘Sick In The Head’, which features little explicit language or political content.
Terror Charges
The charges against O hAnnaidh came after counter-terrorism police were made aware on April 22 of online video from the November event. The footage allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs alongside the Hezbollah flag incident.
In response to the charges, the band released a statement claiming: “We are not the story, genocide is… They use an ‘anti-terror law’ against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn’t have a jury.
They added: “The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.
Festival Controversy
Kneecap will perform at Glastonbury for the second year running, but in a much more prominent Saturday afternoon slot on a stage dedicated to R&B, reggae and hip-hop.
The controversy has sparked debate about freedom of expression, with the band’s supporters arguing they are being targeted for their political views while critics say terrorism charges should disqualify them from mainstream platforms.
THE KNEECAP CONTROVERSY TIMELINE
2017: Band formed in Belfast 2023: Applied for UK music export grant 2024: Kemi Badenoch blocks £14,250 fundingNovember 2024: Alleged Hezbollah flag incident at O2 Forum November 2024: Band wins discrimination case against UK Government April 2025: Counter-terror police begin investigation May 2025: O hAnnaidh charged under Terrorism Act June 2025: Court appearance and Badenoch’s BBC criticism June 28-29: Scheduled Glastonbury performance
© House of Commons. “Prime Ministers Questions – 6 November 2024.” Photo taken on 6 November 2024 (13:12 UTC) with a Nikon Z9 during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, capturing Kemi Badenoch MP. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
