Northern Ireland

Kneecap confirm they flouted agreement with RTÉ not to wear pro-Palestinian emblems during Late Late Show debut

Belfast rappers also claim they received ‘Facebook death threats’ from the south Antrim UDA and dissident republicans.

Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty (left) with Kneecap’s (L-R) Móglaí Bap, DJ Próvaí and Mo Chara, after they unveiled a pro-Palestinian jersey during their Friday night interview on RTÉ's flagship talk show.
Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty with Kneecap's (L-R)Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty (left) with Kneecap’s (L-R) Móglaí Bap, DJ Próvaí and Mo Chara, after they unveiled a pro-Palestinian jersey during their Friday night interview on RTÉ's flagship talk show.
By Staff Reporter

Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap have confirmed they flouted an agreement with RTÉ not to wear pro-Palestine badges and emblems ahead of an appearance on Friday night’s Late Late Show.

The Irish language rappers drew rapturous applause from the live audience when the balaclava-clad DJ Próvaí unzipped his jacket to reveal a pro-Palestinian jersey just two minutes into their interview with Patrick Kielty.

Fellow band members Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap also wore small watermelon badges, historically synonymous with pro-Palestinian protest.

In a statement, RTÉ said Kneecap’s manger was told their appearance would be cancelled if they insisted on wearing pro-Palestinian badges during their appearance on the flagship talk show.

“During the live performance and the subsequent interview, the band chose not to comply with that agreement,” a spokesperson for the state broadcaster told The Journal.

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“They put badges on and revealed that one band member was wearing a Palestinian football jersey.”

In a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, Kneecap described that assessment as “accurate”.

The Irish Women in Harmony performers were similarly asked by RTÉ the previous week to remove pro-Palestinian emblems during their musical tribute to Sinead O’Connor.

Kneecap’s unveiling of the football top early into their Late Late Show debut prompted Patrick Kielty to acknowledge the “costume change” and address the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza.

“Our thoughts are with everybody in that conflict,” said the Co Down presenter.

“Some horrific stuff is happening there. I also have to say, I’m also obliged to say that in the politics there’s some people that might not agree what you’ve done.”

In response, Kneecap’s Móglaí Bap said: “That’s while we are here and we’ll use our platform to highlight the genocide that’s happening in Palestine at the moment.

“30,000 Palestinians have been murdered, by American weapons, most of them women and children.

“So I think we just have to use this platform as an opportunity to appeal to Irish people to attend rallies and protests and to support the BDS movement, to so show solidarity with hopefully that one day Palestine will be free.”

BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) is primarily focused on placing political and economic pressure on Israel.

During the 13 minute interview, the west Belfast hip hop act also claimed they had received ‘Facebook death threats’ from the south Antrim UDA and dissident republicans.

“I think that really sums up where we stand in terms of our art,” said Móglaí Bap.