Jonny Greenwood and Israeli musician Dudu Tassa: "Those supporting [KNEECAP's] freedom of expression are the same ones most determined to restrict ours"

Jonny Greenwood and Israeli rock musician Dudu Tassa have posted a statement to X following the cancellation of their shows in the UK amid “credible threats”.

Greenwood and Tassa mentioned KNEECAP in the post, writing that although they have “no judgement to pass" on the Belfast rap group, they believe that those supporting the trio’s right to freedom of expression are "determined to restrict” theirs.

The Radiohead alum has collaborated with Dudu Tassa for over a decade, and the pair were scheduled to perform at Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall and London’s Hackney Church in June.

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the BDS movement, described the planned events as “artwashing genocide” and welcomed their cancellation.

In their statement, Greenwood and Tassa accused the campaign of having it “both ways”.

“The campaign which has successfully stopped the concerts insist that ‘this is not censorship’ and ‘this isn’t about silencing music or attacking individual artists’ … Forcing musicians not to perform and denying people who want to hear them an opportunity to do so is self-evidently a method of censorship and silencing”.

They further cited KNEECAP, noting that they “feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom.

“We have no judgment to pass on Kneecap but note how sad it is that those supporting their freedom of expression are the same ones most determined to restrict ours.

“We agree completely with people who ask ‘How can this be more important than what’s happening in Gaza and Israel?’ They’re right – it isn’t. How could it be? What, in anyone’s upcoming cultural life, is?”

The reference comes after the trio made headlines last week following controversies that stemmed from their recent performance at Coachella Music Festival where they displayed visuals that read “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine”.

After their second performance, videos were circulated on social media, with one from a concert in 2023 appearing to show one KNEECAP member saying "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."

Another video showed one performer allegedly shouting “Up Hamas” and “Up Hezbollah” in November 2024. Both videos are currently being investigated by UK authorities.

KNEECAP responded to the “smear campaign” against them, which came as a result of their outspoken stance on Palestine at Coachella.

In their statement, KNEECAP said they "do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah," and that they "condemn all attacks on civilians, always."

They further stated that the footage was “taken out of all context” as a way to deflect from “the real conversation” about the ongoing crisis in Palestine, which the United Nations experts and officials have deemed a “genocide”.

Following calls to deplatform the Belfast trio and cancel shows in the UK and Glastonbury Festival, over 100 artists have signed an open letter by KNEECAP's record label, Heavenly Recordings, in support of the rappers. Signatories include Fontaines D.C., Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Tom Morello, CMAT and more.

Following the cancellation of a gig at Eden Sessions last week, the trio announced three new concerts at The Depo in Plymouth on 2, 3 and 4 July. Over the weekend, KNEECAP also teased the release of an upcoming track.