Sharon Osborne demands Kneecap’s US work visas be revoked after anti-genocide remarks at Coachella
Media personality and former X-Factor judge, Sharon Osborne, criticized Coachella for allowing acts to use their performances as a “platform for political expression”
Sharon Osborne has called for Irish rap group Kneecap’s US work visas to be revoked, after their fiery pro-Palestinian set at Coachella.
The reality star and wife of rock legend Ozzy Osborne accused the group of “incorporating aggressive political statements” into their set. The trio from Belfast performed on both weekends of the Californian music festival and received various responses from the media. As they performed, a large screen behind the group projected the message, "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.” This comes after a "risk of deportation" warning was issued for thousands of Irish students on J1 visa in USA.
“It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F*** Israel, Free Palestine." This comes after more political controversy when JFK's grandson Jack Schlossberg said "JD Vance killed the pope" in an explosive post.
Osborne took to X, sharing a statement that said the festival would be remembered as one “that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity” because promoters Goldenvoice allowed acts to use their set as a “platform for political expression”.
She continued: “At a time when the world is experiencing significant unrest, music should serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse.”
She then directed her criticism specifically at Kneecap, writing, “I know for a fact that certain people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice, airing their concerns around the booking of Kneecap.”
“I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa.”
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Despite the direct call out, Kneecap was not the only act at Coachella to use their set to call out the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Punk-rock band Green Day changed the lyrics of their song, Jesus of Suburbia, from “running away from pain when you’ve been victimised” to “running away from pain like the kids from Palestine”.
Yesterday, the band shared a clip from the Fox News show Outnumbered, in which commentator Riley Gaines branded them "rogue activist judges."
She said, "Look, if Green Day, if Kneecap, which is a band I've never even heard of, if they want to be for the Palestinian people, then they shouldn't be anti-Israel, they should be anti-Hamas."
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