Controversial Irish rap group Kneecap have called for a boycott of McDonald’s in their latest gig, just days after their US tour was cancelled with one of its members facing a court case for allegedly supporting Hezbollah.
The trio took aim at McDonald’s alongside Kemi Badenoch, the US military and the DUP in front of a rapturous crowd at a homecoming concert at Vital festival in Belfast.
Kneecap’s 15-stop US tour was spiked on Monday, with the band blaming it on the ‘proximity of our next court hearing in London to the first date of the tour’.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of the Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in November last year.
He was charged with a terrorism offence for displaying the flag ‘in such a way or in such a circumstance as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation’.
The band said they would ’embark on an even bigger tour’ of the US after ‘we win our court case, which we will.’
They also accused the British government of perpetrating a ‘witch-hunt’ against them.
On Friday, the band called for a boycott of McDonald’s in front of thousands of supporters, many donning keffiyehs and waving Palestine flags, who chanted ‘Free Palestine’ throughout the concert.
Controversial Northern Irish rap group Kneecap have called for a boycott of McDonald’s in their latest gig
The trio also projected a message saying ‘Get The US Military Out of Ireland’ during their performance in Dublin
Kneecap’s 15-stop US tour was spiked on Monday, with the band blaming it on the ‘proximity of our next court hearing in London to the first date of the tour’
The fast food giant has been hit with a boycott campaign over its perceived support for Israel since the outbreak of war with Hamas in October 2023.
It was sparked after Muslim-majority countries, such as Kuwait, Malaysia and Pakistan, issued statements distancing themselves from the company.
McDonald’s last year admitted that they were experiencing a ‘meaningful business impact’ due to the Israel-Hamas conflict as well as ‘associated misinformation’ about the brand.
It followed a dispute when McDonald’s Israel announced it had donated thousands of free meals to IDF troops involved in the war.
McDonald’s restaurants are franchises, meaning that individual stores are owned by local operators.
While last year McDonald’s bought back ownership of all 225 restaurants in Israel.
Kneecap also lashed out at the US military during their performance in Belfast, beginning their set with an on screen message that said: ‘Get the US military out of Ireland’.
That slogan appears to be in reference to the US use of Shannon Airport as a stopover point.
Almost 2,000 military aircraft and US civil flights, with munitions of war on board, have stopped at Irish airports, mostly at Shannon, over the last three years.
The band called for a boycott of McDonald’s in front of thousands of supporters who chanted ‘Free Palestine’ throughout the concert.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of the Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in November last year
The fast food giant has been hit with a boycott campaign over its perceived support for Israel since the outbreak of war with Hamas
The controversial trio also hit out at Conservatives leader Kemi Badenoch, projecting a ‘F*** Badenoch’ message onto the screen.
Kneecap have previously been investigated by police after a band member was filmed saying ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.’
They have also been accused of anti-semitism and last month were banned from Hungary for three years for ‘repeatedly engaging in anti-semitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups’ ahead of a performance at the Sziget Festival in Budapest.
They claim the controversies surrounding the group are part of a campaign against them because of their vocal support for Palestine and criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
They performed to a sea of Palestinian flags during their set at Glastonbury Festival in June, which was initially investigated by police.
Police later said they would be taking ‘no further action’ against the band.
