BBC pulls plug on live broadcast as Starmer demands ban on hip hop trio facing terror charges
A controversial hip hop group sparked pandemonium at Glastonbury yesterday after one member shared an image wearing a “terror group” T-shirt — just hours before leading thousands in “free Palestine” chants.
JJ O Dochartaigh of Irish rap trio Kneecap posted the inflammatory snap on X before their explosive West Holts stage performance, as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper prepares to ban the anti-Israel campaign group under terrorism laws.
Festival on lockdown
Festival bosses were forced to issue emergency warnings as massive crowds descended on the West Holts stage, with officials announcing “no access” just before the band’s 4pm slot amid fears of a dangerous crush.
The extraordinary scenes came after Sir Keir Starmer declared it “not appropriate” for the group to perform — and the BBC confirmed they would NOT broadcast the set live in an unprecedented snub.
“Kneecap will draw a large audience,” festival organisers warned in a panicked statement. “If you’re not planning to see them, please plan alternative routes around that area.”
They added desperately: “Please have some other entertainment options in mind in case the field reaches capacity and we need to close it.”
Terror charge bombshell
The chaos erupted as frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh — who performs as Mo Chara — faces terrorism charges for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag while shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a November gig in Kentish Town, north London.
The 27-year-old rapper was hauled before Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, mobbed by hundreds of supporters as he arrived for his hearing. He was released on unconditional bail and must return to court on August 20.
Despite the serious charges, Kneecap remained defiant, addressing their post to “a chairde Gael” — Gaelic friends — and mocking the BBC as the “propaganda wing of the regime.
BBC’s unprecedented move
In an extraordinary development, the BBC confirmed they would NOT livestream the controversial performance — breaking with tradition for a main stage act at Britain’s biggest festival.
A spokesperson attempted damage control, stating: “Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines. We don’t always live stream every act from the main stages.”
The broadcaster promised to make an “on-demand version” available later — allowing them to edit out any inflammatory content before it hits the airwaves.
But the damage was done. The band’s supporters erupted in fury, with one raging: “censoring political opposition shame on the BBC!
PM’s intervention
The Prime Minister didn’t mince his words when asked about the scandal by The Sun on Sunday. “No I don’t,” Starmer said bluntly when asked if Kneecap should perform.
“I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won’t say too much, because there’s a court case on, but I don’t think that’s appropriate.”
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch went even further, declaring: “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.
Crowd chaos fears
By early afternoon, thousands had already crammed into the West Holts field, with Palestinian flags being sold throughout the crowd “in aid of charities in Gaza.”
Fans draped themselves in the controversial flags, tying them to security fences as stewards desperately tried to maintain order. The 35,000-capacity area threatened to burst at the seams.
Festival sources revealed police and local authorities had been “primed to expect right-wing counter protests, a higher risk of terrorist activity and possible violence” at the Somerset venue.
The band’s incendiary reputation preceded them. At Coachella earlier this year, they projected “F**k Israel, Free Palestine” in giant letters on screens behind the stage, leading to multiple cancelled shows.
Hezbollah horror
The terror charges relate to shocking footage from a London gig where Mo Chara allegedly wrapped himself in a Hezbollah flag — the Iran-backed terrorist organisation responsible for thousands of deaths.
Hezbollah, founded in 1982, voiced support for Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel before launching rockets at Israeli positions. The Lebanese terror group’s involvement has prolonged the devastating conflict that’s killed thousands of civilians, including children.
But Kneecap remained unrepentant, claiming the footage was “deliberately taken out of all context” as part of a “coordinated smear campaign.”
‘14,000 babies dying’
In a jaw-dropping response to the charges, the band posted: “14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us…
They added brazenly: “The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.
The inflammatory rhetoric has divided opinion, with supporters including The Jam’s Paul Weller joining hundreds outside court chanting “Free Mo Chara, Free Palestine!”
Festival founder’s defiance
Glastonbury founder Sir Michael Eavis stoked the flames further, telling critics to “go somewhere else” if they don’t like the festival’s politics.
Glastonbury stands for something,” the 88-year-old declared defiantly, despite mounting pressure to drop the controversial act.
His daughter Emily Eavis, who co-organises the event, insisted “everyone is welcome” — a stance that’s infuriated those calling for consequences for the terror-charged rapper.
Security nightmare
The festival’s decision to keep Kneecap on the bill created an unprecedented security headache. Sources revealed Avon and Somerset Police deployed uniformed officers “24/7 throughout the festival” amid fears of violence.
Reform UK’s Richard Tice even turned down an invitation to debate at Glastonbury after his team concluded “it would not be safe” for him to attend.
The revelation that a Palestine Action activist — from a group Cooper plans to proscribe as terrorists — was also speaking at the festival only heightened tensions.
‘Death threats’ scandal
The controversy deepened with revelations that counter-terrorism police were investigating historical footage of a band member allegedly telling fans: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
The chilling comments are particularly charged given two UK MPs have been murdered in their constituencies over the past decade — Labour’s Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative Sir David Amess in 2021.
BBC in crisis
The BBC found itself in an impossible position. Coming at an incredibly sensitive time with employees already revolting over Israel-Hamas coverage, broadcasting a terror-charged rapper’s politically explosive set live risked catastrophe.
Options under consideration included monitoring the performance for “anything untoward” before uploading to iPlayer — similar to how the BAFTAs are shown ‘as live’ with a delay.
BBC Radio 2’s Jo Whiley attempted to downplay the crisis, urging people to “watch and make up their own minds” while describing the rappers as “very passionate about their music.”
‘Satirical’ defence
Mo Chara attempted to justify his Hezbollah flag-waving, claiming: “If you believe that what a satirical band who play characters on stage do is more outrageous than the murdering of innocent Palestinians, then you need to give your head a f***ing wobble.”
He insisted it wasn’t Kneecap’s “job to tell people what’s a joke and what’s not,” vowing they would continue their “political messaging.
The defence fell flat with critics who pointed out that waving terrorist flags and inciting violence against MPs goes far beyond satire.
Worthy Farm divide
As crowds swelled at West Holts, the festival found itself more divided than ever. While thousands cheered Kneecap’s defiant performance, others questioned how Glastonbury — once a celebration of peace and love — had become a platform for terror-charged provocateurs.
The band led the massive crowd in chants of “Free, free Palestine” as Bob Vylan — equally vocal about Israel’s military actions — warmed up with anti-IDF chants.
Festival-goers reported groups walking through selling Palestinian flags while others tied them to security fences, transforming the arena into a sea of controversial political symbols.
The reckoning
As Kneecap’s slot approached, one thing became crystal clear: Glastonbury 2025 will be remembered not for its music, but for the moment politics, terrorism charges and inflammatory rhetoric collided at Britain’s most beloved festival.
With Mo Chara due back in court on August 20, the question remains: should someone facing terror charges for waving Hezbollah flags be given a platform at a festival broadcast to millions?
The BBC’s refusal to air the set live suggests they know the answer. But with thousands packing West Holts to capacity, Kneecap’s message found its audience regardless.
In the end, Glastonbury got its controversy, the band got their platform, and British festival-goers got a stark reminder that even Worthy Farm isn’t immune to the bitter divisions tearing through society.
As one disgusted festival-goer put it: “How did we go from peace and love to terror flags and death threats?”
The answer was written on JJ O Dochartaigh’s T-shirt — and chanted by thousands who should have known better.
