The BBC’s failure to broadcast Irish-language rap trio Kneecap’s landmark set at Glastonbury has sparked outrage. In choosing not to stream one of the festival’s most politically significant performances, the BBC has effectively silenced a powerful voice for resistance and solidarity.
Kneecap’s art is satirical, symbolic, and unapologetically political, rooted in the lived experience of a post-conflict generation navigating colonial legacy, working class life and cultural erasure. It is no wonder, then, that they find themselves standing in solidarity with the Palestinians, and no wonder that the British establishment find themselves uncomfortable when faced with Kneecap.
These expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people are found to be particularly egregious at this moment in time, as Israel, with the support of the USA, EU and UK, continues to commit genocide while the world watches on. Rather than viewing the situation in Palestine as merely a humanitarian issue, the right of the Palestinians to fight against Israeli oppression is recognised by Kneecap. This is the critical reason as to why they are being censored and deplatformed by the BBC.
Censorship at Glastonbury was not only limited to Kneecap, as Bob Vylan were removed from the BBC iPlayer following their performance, during which they spoke out against the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). While saying “death to the IDF” may be shocking to some, when broken down, it is in reality an expression of support for the Palestinians to fight and win against Israeli occupation. This is a totally legitimate position to take and view to express. To stand with Palestinians only when they die, and to condemn them or remain neutral when they fight back, is to effectively support the status quo and side with their oppressor.
Kneecap’s vocal support for Palestinian liberation is not an anomaly, it is part of a global chorus of right-minded people standing in solidarity with those facing occupation, apartheid, and war crimes. From the stage at Glastonbury, their message was clear: silence in the face of such injustice is not an option.
At a festival known for political protest and activism through art, the omission of Kneecap was of course more than editorial oversight, it was a political decision with troubling implications for the future of artistic freedom and public broadcasting. Glastonbury is not just a music festival, it is a cultural barometer. Performances on its stages are beamed to millions around the world by the BBC, which curates the festival’s highlights for television and online audiences under its public service remit. This is not just about one band or one performance. It is about whether the BBC is capable of serving all of the public, not just those who take the positions deemed politically correct by the establishment.
When artists are deplatformed for expressing solidarity with Palestine or challenging capitalism, imperialism and genocide in general, it reflects a dangerous pattern, one where political speech is punished and censorship is quietly normalised. This must be taken as a wake-up call, rather than a warning shot, for all of us who wish to build a new and better world.