Kneecap Lead Anti-Starmer Chants at Glastonbury Amid Terror Charge Controversy

The Belfast rap trio Kneecap sparked controversy at Glastonbury 2025 by leading the crowd in chants against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had called their performance "inappropriate" following terror charges against member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh. Despite political pressure and calls for their removal, the band expressed gratitude to the festival organizers and criticized Starmer openly during their set, which included chants of "f*** Keir Starmer" and support for Palestine. Their performance drew a large crowd, requiring the area around the West Holts Stage to be closed early due to fans waving Irish and Palestinian flags. BBC chose not to live-stream their set, citing editorial guidelines, but made it available on-demand. The group also clarified that their call for support at Ó hAnnaidh's upcoming court appearance was not a rallying cry for riots, emphasizing peaceful support and solidarity with Palestine. The controversy was heightened by previous incidents, including Ó hAnnaidh's terror charge related to displaying a Hezbollah flag and chanting support for militant groups during earlier performances.