KNEECAP, Jedward and more react to death of Queen Elizabeth

Musicians, writers, artists and more have been sharing their reactions to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She died at her Scottish estate, Balmoral, yesterday afternoon, aged 96.

While there's been plenty of sombre responses across Twitter, reaction on this side of the Irish Sea has predictably been less reverential.

Taking to Twitter, current Hot Press cover stars KNEECAP said: “We don’t discriminate when it comes to old folk, but we wouldn’t lick cream off her. As head of the British Army she oversaw dozens of wars and the deaths of millions (from) Belfast to Baghdad, Libya to the Malvinas There’s a thousand crimes behind the crown.”

That was accompanied by a picture of the Queen firing machine gun rounds flanked by three members of the British Army.

They later posted a link to their track ‘Get Your Brits Out’:

🎉🎉🎉https://t.co/TVxgQa3ThU

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) September 8, 2022

Here's a selection of Jedward's typically bizarre Tweets about the Queen's death:

Breaking news! Queen is dead pic.twitter.com/aYs3aQunzU

— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 8, 2022

Liz truss must have done something on that visit to the Queen!

— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 8, 2022

FYI we’re Irish ☘️ the country that has been oppressed historically by the monarchy! Please study your History! We haven’t said anything but the facts!

— JEDWARD (@planetjedward) September 8, 2022

Sleaford Mods were also, unsurprisingly, quick to point out that the royal family "were walking the Scottish highlands on a Monday morning and discussing the 5 course lunch awaiting them. You were doing 12 hour shifts and begging Vodaphone not to put a block on your number until payday . Put ya tongue back in ya fuckin mouth."

London rapper and activist Lowkey had this to say:

Media figures who have spent the last few years obsessing about cancel culture and freedom of speech will absolutely cancel you for saying something remotely critical today.

— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) September 8, 2022

London's Bob Vylan also took to Twitter to share a clip from the video for 2020 single 'England's Ending' – which had plenty to say about the Queen and Diana.

After noting that they'd have to "update the lyrics", they wrote: "And before anybody thinks to blame me, I've got an airtight alibi!"

And before anybody thinks to blame me, I’ve got an airtight alibi! https://t.co/6JEWsuiiMs

— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) September 8, 2022

The Scratch's Jordan O'Leary had the news broken to him in a video shared by the band:

she’s fuckin dead boy pic.twitter.com/vEIG1cilxo

— The Scratch (@thescratchmusic) September 8, 2022

Actress Pauline McLynn was more conciliatory:

i met the Queen once - here's us having a laugh - she was luminous, and magnificent. i'm no monarchist, never had to make a choice as an Irish peasant but she was some hardworking lady. RIP pic.twitter.com/ebU1xfvBlT

— Pauline McLynn (@PaulineMcLynn1) September 8, 2022

Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee posted this image of the Queen and President Michael D. Higgins:

pic.twitter.com/7ebPDvoUXG

— Lisa McGee (@LisaMMcGee) September 8, 2022

This was the interesting take from West Belfast newspaper, Andersonstown News:

WE SAY: If the queen could bow her head in memory of the men and women of the IRA at the Garden of Remembrance, maybe it's worth counting to ten before hitting the tweet button tonight. pic.twitter.com/6yLxHkjcvM

— Andersonstown News (@ATownNews) September 8, 2022

See more reactions below:

This is an excellent day to talk about how damaging the cleansing of history is.

A lot of historic context would make today more understandable without just assuming people are being mean to Queen Elizabeth.

That colonial past is right there.

— Tre (@trestewart_) September 8, 2022

tickets for my show in @3olympiatheatre and @mydolans are on sale now ! Its what she would have wanted, please pay your respects here: https://t.co/Cv0rIJS1Vv pic.twitter.com/PqOZwlqFe8

— cmat (@cmatbaby) September 9, 2022

The fawning on RTE. Leo Varadkar was actually talking about the queen’s ‘realms’ throughout the world listing off Asia, the Caribbean etc as if it was all voluntary.

— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) September 9, 2022

The BBC have now replaced the words “violent colonialism” with “longstanding relationship”

Jesus Christ https://t.co/K3PEeUbC8Q

— Daniel Lambert (@dlLambo) September 8, 2022