Irish band Kneecap controversy

[g3org3y]

BBC said:

The Metropolitan Police's counter-terror officers will investigate online videos showing rap trio Kneecap calling for the death of British MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".

A video emerged of the west Belfast trio at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one person from the band saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."

Both Hamas and Hezbollah, external are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

Some gigs featuring the band have since been cancelled in the controversy.

Linky: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyqe3v5jjdo

I understand they also had this up during their set at Coachella:



Linky: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dr6xvk5x3o

[LivLL]

It's marketing bullst, no one had heard of them before and yet now they are all over the news.

[Mortarboard]

The wolf tones have been doing that for 40 years.

M.

[Wills2]

Childish minds say childish things, trying to be cool and edgy but just end looking like tools, I suspect this won't go well for them.

[gazza285]

Manufactured outrage sells.

[Solocle]

They literally posted this on Twitter. Terrorism Act 2000 § 12 offence all day long.

[ChevronB19]

Solocle said:

They literally posted this on Twitter. Terrorism Act 2000 § 12 offence all day long.

Do I like them? No.

Do I support their comments (I guess I have to say alleged comments)? No.

Do I think posting a picture of yourself reading a book should be a terrorist offence? No.

The other stuff they have done might be culpable under S12 or 13, but not this.

Edited by ChevronB19 on Thursday 1st May 14:55

[J4CKO]

The Rubber Bandits were doing the mask thing years ago.

[BOR]

I absolutely LOVE Kneecap and I think they are brilliant at what they do.

But they said hurty words.

They said hurty words against Israel, so The Machine swings into action.

I thought you were all against "cancel culture"

[gareth h]

BOR said:

I absolutely LOVE Kneecap and I think they are brilliant at what they do.

But they said hurty words.

They said hurty words against Israel, so The Machine swings into action.

I thought you were all against "cancel culture"

Er no they requested people kill a conservative MP!

[Dingu]

gareth h said:

BOR said:

I absolutely LOVE Kneecap and I think they are brilliant at what they do.

But they said hurty words.

They said hurty words against Israel, so The Machine swings into action.

I thought you were all against "cancel culture"

Er no they requested people kill a conservative MP!

Yet people are constantly banging on about hurty words and tweets getting you jailed after people incited violence or worse against asylum seekers.
They gotta pick a version and stick to it. It’s either an issue for both that and this or for neither.

[BikeBikeBIke]

I think music is a bit like comedy, you should get a pass to say extreme stuff because it's art.

Whatever we think this won't hurt their sales, wonder if their manager kicked off the controversy?

[Wills2]

gareth h said:

BOR said:

I absolutely LOVE Kneecap and I think they are brilliant at what they do.

But they said hurty words.

They said hurty words against Israel, so The Machine swings into action.

I thought you were all against "cancel culture"

Er no they requested people kill a conservative MP!

He probably loves that as well, given he supports a death cult.

Sick minds do what sick minds will.

[Hereward]

BOR said:

I absolutely LOVE Kneecap and I think they are brilliant at what they do.

But they said hurty words.

They said hurty words against Israel, so The Machine swings into action.

I thought you were all against "cancel culture"

Cool lyrics, bro.

[Petrus1983]

Considering that the last two MPs murdered were Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, who both - no matter who you support, seemed like people loyal to their constituents, these aren't hurty words. They've gone far too far and will have to face the consequences.

[Wheel Turned Out]

I can see why matey chooses to wear the tea cosy on his bonce so often.

[Solocle]

ChevronB19 said:

Do I like them? No.

Do I support their comments (I guess I have to say alleged comments)? No.

Do I think posting a picture of yourself reading a book should be a terrorist offence? No.

The other stuff they have done might be culpable under S12 or 13, but not this.

Edited by ChevronB19 on Thursday 1st May 14:55

The intent is obvious, especially in context. It's obviously an endorsement of Hezbollah (and, if he actually read that book, the antisemitic filth within). Regardless, I certainly think section 13 is a slam dunk, publishing an image in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

If you posted a photo reading Mein Kampf like that, the intent would be just as clear.

[ChevronB19]

Solocle said:

The intent is obvious, especially in context. It's obviously an endorsement of Hezbollah (and, if he actually read that book, the antisemitic filth within). Regardless, I certainly think section 13 is a slam dunk, publishing an image in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that the person is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation.

If you posted a photo reading Mein Kampf like that, the intent would be just as clear.

Try reading Fahrenheit 451. It’s not ‘obviously’ an endorsement, and a picture like that wouldn’t stand up in court.

As I said, I don’t like or agree with them, and they may well be in deep doodoo about other stuff, but not on the basis of that picture, which is what you originally stated.


P.S. Again, while I despise the author, Mein Kampf is not banned in the UK.

Edited by ChevronB19 on Thursday 1st May 16:06

[Solocle]

ChevronB19 said:

Try reading Fahrenheit 451. It’s not ‘obviously’ an endorsement, and a picture like that wouldn’t stand up in court.

As I said, I don’t like or agree with them, and they may well be in deep doodoo about other stuff, but not on the basis of that picture, which is what you originally stated.

The book isn't banned. Heck, I've actually read a small part of Mein Kampf in the past, out of historical interest.

But posting a picture on Twitter wearing a balaclava looking at the pages admiringly? Without any text whatsoever to provide context?

To any reasonable person that's an endorsement, and thus that meets the legal threshold in the terrorism act. Doubly so given their history and past statements.

It arouses reasonable suspicion that they're a supporter of a proscribed organisation.

If the book was Mein Kampf, it might be inciting racial hatred instead, it's more doubtful. But the Terrorism Act is a particularly fanged piece of legislation.

Quite fitting given that it was initially a measure against the IRA.

[Richard-390a0]

Wheel Turned Out said:

I can see why matey chooses to wear the tea cosy on his bonce so often.

Clearly a wrong 'un! Ruined his nanna's best tea cosy & wearing a polo shirt with the top button done up!! They'll be encouraging people to steal VW emblems next!!!

Edited by Richard-390a0 on Thursday 1st May 16:38