Coachella organisers reportedly “blindsided” by KNEECAP’s pro-Palestinian messaging

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Paul Tollett, CEO of Coachella organiser Goldenvoice was said to have been “blindsided” by KNEECAP’s pro-Palestinian messaging at the festival on Friday.

The rap trio displayed visuals that read “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine,” “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people” and “It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.” The group also led the crowd in chanting “Free, free Palestine!” These actions led to push-back from American media outlet Fox News, calling the “Fuck Israel” visual “unreal” and “beyond staggering.”

"A band I've never even heard of"

The only part of this shite that made any sense. pic.twitter.com/HcWx11X6c5

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 21, 2025

“The Irish not so long ago were persecuted at the hands of the Brits, but we were never bombed from the fucking skies with nowhere to go,” said rapper Mo Chara. “The Palestinians have nowhere to go, it’s their fucking home and they’re bombing them from the skies. If you’re not calling it a genocide what the fuck are you calling it?”

Some uncensored messaging to Coachella 🤝🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/WbHZBrCZl5

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 19, 2025

During Coachella’s first weekend, the livestream of their performance was cut short after they led an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant.

“Not the only thing that was cut – our messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens either,” they wrote on X.

For their second performance, KNEECAP held their own livestream on Twitch through political commentator Hasan Piker. They have long been outspoken on their position regarding Israel, helping raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine and calling Prime Minister Micheál Martin a “lick-arse” and “scumbag” for visiting US President Donald Trump.

“There’s never been a war just a medieval type slaughter except with drones and fighter jets,” they posted in March following a wave of airstrikes that broke Israel’s ceasefire. “And these cunts smile and talk about human rights…”