The fallout from Coachella 2025 continues, particularly concerning the performance of Irish rap group Kneecap and the sharp condemnation it drew from music manager and television personality Sharon Osbourne. Osbourne has publicly slammed both the band and festival organizers Goldenvoice, calling for Kneecap‘s US work visas to be revoked over their politically charged set.
The annual Coachella festival, known for attracting music’s biggest stars and celebrity attendees, became a flashpoint this year as several acts voiced political sentiments, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kneecap, a Belfast trio known for Irish republican themes and vocal support for Palestine, utilized their platform on both festival weekends. Their first weekend included leading the crowd in chants, including one targeting Margaret Thatcher, alongside expressing support for the Palestinian people.
However, it was their second weekend performance that drew significant attention and Osbourne‘s ire. The group projected messages onto the screen behind them, including statements that read: “Israel is committing g*nocide against the Palestinian people. It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F*** Israel Free Palestine.” Frontman Mo Chara also reportedly likened Ireland’s colonial history to the ongoing conflict, stating, “Palestinians have nowhere to go. This is their f***ing home, and they’re being bombed from the sky.” Kneecap later claimed their message was cut from the festival’s official livestream, though this has not been independently verified.
Sharon Osbourne took to social media with a lengthy statement, expressing profound disapproval of the festival allowing such political expressions. She wrote:
“Coachella 2025 will be remembered as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity. Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression. At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse. While festivals like Coachella showcase remarkable talent from around the globe, music’s primary purpose is to unite people. It should not be a venue for promoting terrorist organizations or spreading hate.”
While acknowledging other political statements, like those made by Green Day regarding the Middle East, Osbourne suggested a difference in appropriateness:
“Green Day, a band I personally admire, chose to share their views on the Middle East during their Coachella performance. While I respect their right to express their opinions, such discussions would have been more appropriate at their own concert, not at a festival.”
Her criticism reserved particular severity for Kneecap:
“Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements. Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support t*rrorist organizations. This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA.”
Osbourne directly challenged the festival organizers, Goldenvoice, questioning their decision-making and awareness:
“Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was unaware of Kneecap’s political intentions when they were booked. However, after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence.”
She further contested claims that Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett might have been “blindsided,” referencing information from Scooter Braun, who organized the Nova Music Festival exhibit commemorating victims of the October 7th attacks in Israel. Braun had defended Tollett, noting he attended the exhibit. Osbourne responded pointedly:
“If Tollett visited the Nova exhibit, he would have seen the portraits of every person that was k*lled that day and heard some of their voices on cell phone recordings, sent home to their loved ones. It is difficult to comprehend how if somebody saw this exhibit firsthand that they could book a band on their festival that is in support of what was done that day and supports the group responsible for this mass m*rder. Not one IDF soldier was k*lled that day, just 1400 innocent civilians.”
Osbourne also extended criticism to Kneecap‘s representation, the Independent Artists Group:
“Furthermore, the Independent Artists Group, which represents Kneecap, includes individuals of Jewish heritage. It is disheartening that they have not used their positions to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages. Shame on them.”
Drawing on her own background and industry experience, Osbourne dismissed the idea that organizers were caught unaware:
“As someone with both Irish Catholic on my Mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my Fathers side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved. Goldenvoice‘s claim of being ‘blindsided’ by Kneecap‘s performance seems implausible given the circumstances. I know for a fact that certain people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice, airing their concerns around the booking of Kneecap.”
She concluded her statement with a direct appeal:
“I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.”
The controversy also drew a response from survivors of the Nova Music Festival massacre, who stated Kneecap‘s message “deeply hurt many in our community.” Their statement emphasised Nova’s ideals of peace and unity through music and invited Kneecap to visit their exhibit “to connect. To witness. To understand,” stressing their response should be “rooted in empathy, not hate.”
Meanwhile, actor Sean Biggerstaff (known for Harry Potter) reportedly criticized Osbourne‘s remarks on social media, labelling her an “incoherent di**head.” The incident also gained traction with mentions of Dave Grohl being photographed with Kneecap at the festival.
Kneecap, consisting of members Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, have yet to formally respond to Osbourne‘s comments but are set to embark on a US tour and were recently confirmed as support for Fontaines D.C. in Belfast. The clash highlights the ongoing tension between artistic expression, political activism, and the role of major music festivals in navigating contentious global issues.
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