- The leaked letter was signed by 30-plus “music industry individuals,” according to the BBC Radio 1 DJ’s statement.
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- Toddla T has condemned a private and confidential letter allegedly calling on Glastonbury to remove Kneecap from this year’s lineup.
The BBC Radio 1 DJ, who produced the Belfast rap trio’s 2024 album Fine Art, shared a statement to Instagram last Tuesday, June 10th, in which he alleged that a leaked letter was sent to the Somerset festival signed by 30 individuals working in the UK music industry.
He blasted the letter as contributing towards “the enabling of genocide,” and described it as “a coordinated attempt by 30 members of the musical elite, people with systemic influence, to silence the voices of three working-class artists from Belfast.” It’s “yet another example of how power structures—cultural, governmental and media—continue to favour and shield the actions of the Israeli state,” he continued.
Love Music Hate Racism shared a similar message of support to Instagram on the same day, claiming that anyone who tries to silence Kneecap “is on the wrong side of history.”
The allegations follow the group’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh being charged with a terror offence by Metropolitan Police last month after he allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag during a gig at O2 Academy Kentish Town. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this Wednesday, June 18th. Kneecap’s performance at Glasgow festival TRNSMT was also pulled over police concerns around safety.
In contrast, other artists, such as Massive Attack, Annie Mac, Bicep, Saoirse and Jacques Greene have come out in support of the group. “Kneecap are not the story,” Massive Attack wrote. “Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story.”
Glastonbury returns to Worthy Farm from June 25th through 29th. The Prodigy, Charli xcx, Four Tet, Overmono and PinkPantheress are among the hundreds of artists booked to play. Kneecap are scheduled to play the West Holts Stage at 4 PM on the 28th.
Read Toddla T and Love Music Hate Racism’s posts in full. We’ll continue to report on this story as it unfolds.