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Kneecap's young fans will believe their 'behaviour is acceptable', Shalit warns
Apr 30, 2025
Belfast rap trio Kneecap have been branded "horrific" and "ignorant" after appearing to call for fans to "kill their local MP" in resurfaced concert footage.Footage from a November 2023 gig has sparked widespread condemnation and an investigation by counter-terrorism police, as one member of the band appears to say: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."FULL STORY HERE.
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0:00
What do you make of those comments from NICAP
0:03
I mean, clearly horrific, clearly ignorant, clearly ill-informed. And I suspect from their point of view, fairly self-serving
0:11
Because if you look at their website, and I just Googled their website this morning, and I'm quoting what they say about themselves
0:18
They say we are an anti-establishment, explosive delivery artist, and they want to do anti-establishment lyrics
0:25
So they naively and ignorantly think that anti-establishment is supporting murder terrorist organizations and murdering democratically elected MPs
0:36
Yes, they've apologized to the fans of the two MPs who were murdered, but they seem to be encouraging people to behave in that way
0:43
And the frightening thing about these sort of comments from young music acts is they influence teenagers
0:50
So teenagers in school who like this group may think this kind of behaviour is acceptable
0:55
And that's what's really scary about it. People like you and me will be offended and upset, but we're not going to go out and act on it
1:01
But if you a 16 year old at school who angry and a pop group you idolise say you can kill people as a way forward that then has repercussions we can only imagine With the world Jonathan that they are entering into but it very different than the world they were cultured in
1:20
that they were brought up in. Believe me, what they have said, I don't think will make much of a fuss or cause much of a fence
1:27
where they're from and how they have been groomed in a certain area
1:33
So there's no point people really getting very annoyed about that. But I think they will realize that they are in a different area and they've got to play by the rules in this area or else the consequences could be pretty bad for them
1:49
You're absolutely right, Eamon. Of course, you know, your own background in Northern Ireland, you've seen things that people and me and Ellie can only imagine because clearly our background and upbringing is very different than yours and your personal life journey
2:01
however they now have a global platform when they go to glaspsley when they go to coachella which is
2:06
the glaspsley of america and make these massively provocative statements the fans there and the
2:11
people listening and watching haven't had the northern island experience they're people from
2:15
towns and cities all over the world and they're just hearing pop groups they idolize
2:19
support violence and murder and and and yes they may be excluded and in a strange kind of way they might look at being excluded as an example of why they angry And they probably like the fact we debating this morning That even a worse situation because we giving them all
2:36
And the sad thing is, so they're probable fan base. They probably like this
2:41
It's like, remember years ago when the Sex Pistols were banned or Frank Goes to Hollywood were banned
2:45
It actually made them bigger. Yeah. Kneecap have said this. Let's just be clear about how they have apologised
2:51
They've said, let's be unequivocal. We do not and never have supported Hamas or Hezbollah
2:56
We condemn all attacks on civilians always. It is never OK. We know this more than anyone given our nation's history
3:04
We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual ever
3:10
An extract of the footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised as if it were a call to action
3:18
To the Amos and to the Cox families, we send you our heartfelt apologies. we never intended to cause you any hurt
3:25
Is that enough, Jonathan, or what do you think they need to add to that or do
3:32
Well, if you look at their websites and their language, not that I listen to the lyrics but I have seen the headlines of what they said themselves What they said themselves and the way they speak is vastly different to that press statement That press statement is written by a clever PR professional or their record label try and protect the value of the asset of the group
3:50
That is not a statement from the three young men in the band really caring
3:56
That's a statement by clever PR professionals. Jonathan, just briefly, do you think they should play Glastonbury this summer
4:02
Totally not. And I can't imagine a million years they will because Glastonbury is endorsed by the BBC
4:08
Clearly, and Glastonbury gives joy to tens of millions in this country, probably hundreds of millions around the world and a national broadcast platform
4:18
And I mentioned the word the BBC is all about the BBC. It could be GB News
4:22
If you can use a broadcast in Glastonbury, I can't imagine for one moment that Glastonbury not going to remove the invitation
4:29
Just imagine they go on a glass of stage, say something outrageous
4:33
it will get filmed on thousands and thousands of phones, it will get broadcast to millions, even if not on the BBC
4:39
it will end up being seen by millions of people through social media, and that will say to young people influenced by these type of people
4:46
that it's okay to say these kind of things. And that's what's really frightening to me having children
4:52
is that these children think these people are superstars and they think these people should be looked up to
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