Irish rap group Kneecap has Eden Project gig cancelled amid row over ‘kill MPs’ comment
Kneecap have had their upcoming gig at the Eden Project cancelled after they called for Tory MPs to be killed and appeared to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” in previous footage of one of their performances.
Releasing a statement on the decision to let the group go from their line-up, a spokesperson for the Eden Sessions said: “Eden Sessions Limited announced today that the Kneecap show at Eden Project scheduled for July 4, 2025 has been cancelled.
“Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded.
“The refund process will commence from Wednesday, April 30 2025. Refunds will be processed against the original payment cards used. Purchasers should allow six working days for funds to be received into their accounts.”
The cancellation of their gig comes after the band apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, and said on Instagram that they “reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual.
“Kneecap’s message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that.”
They said they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah.
The Belfast trio have been branded a “hate fest” that “promote division” by DUP leader Gavin Robinson, and slammed their comments at Stormont yesterday.
Robinson said the promoter of Kneecap’s upcoming August gig in Belfast has “questions to answer” as he labelled the group as “totally inappropriate”.
His comments come as counter-terrorism police in London examine footage from the band’s performances.
They are also reviewing a video clip from another concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK, with Irish premier Micheal Martin saying the group should “urgently” clarify the comments.
The controversy has led to questions about their upcoming performances in Belfast and at Glastonbury Festival in June.
Robinson referenced Katie Amess, daughter of murdered Conservative MP David Amess and said: “When you listen to Katie Amess this morning, I don’t think anyone could be failed to be moved by just how appalling and outrageous their position is.”
When asked whether Kneecap should still perform at their planned gigs throughout the year, Robinson said “actions have consequences”.
“They should face the wrath, disappointment, consternation of people, not just like us in unionism, in Belfast, or across Northern Ireland, but as you can see right across these isles.”
Robinson noted that a promoter in the United States had already dropped the group.
In the House of Commons on Monday, Ulster Unionist MP for South Antrim Robin Swann asked the Home Office minister to condemn Kneecap’s remarks.
“Would the minister join me in condemning the recent statement by the so-called Irish rap band Kneecap, where it has actually been reported that they have said to their audience that they should kill their local MP and the only good Tory is a dead Tory?” he asked.
Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson replied: “Yes, of course I would condemn any comments like that online.”