Massive Attack released a statement in reply to demands from various UK political figures to exclude Kneecap from festival line-ups, including Glastonbury this year. The iconic electronic group shared a statement via their Instagram, emphasizing that “Kneecap are not the story.” They expressed their long-standing public stand against the illegal occupation and killing of Palestinians, highlighting the importance of not staying silent on political issues.
The controversy surrounding Kneecap stemmed from a 2023 performance video that showed a band member shouting inflammatory remarks against Tory MPs. This led to criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, First Minister of Scotland John Swinney, and Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch, urging for Kneecap’s removal from upcoming festivals. Despite issuing a heartfelt apology to the families of murdered MPs David Amess and Jo Cox, Kneecap maintained that the footage was distorted as part of a smear campaign against them, following their pro-Palestine messaging at Coachella.
Massive Attack condemned the selective outrage of politicians and journalists, questioning their authority to push for political censorship while ignoring ongoing atrocities like genocide. They emphasized the larger issues at play, highlighting the need to stand in solidarity with artists speaking out against Israeli war crimes and the suffering of the Palestinian people. The band made it clear that the real story lies in the silence, complicity, and support of these crimes by the British government.
In their powerful statement, Massive Attack underscored the significance of language when addressing sensitive topics, acknowledging the impact of tragic events like the murders of Jo Cox and David Amess. They called attention to the broader context of political manipulation and media focus, urging for a shift towards addressing the underlying humanitarian crises rather than targeting artists for their expressions on stage
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