Sharon Osbourne call for US visas to be revoked after Coachella

Sharon Osbourne has called for a west Belfast rap group’s US work visas to be revoked.

Last weekend, Kneecap performed at Coachella, an annual music festival in California, where they ended their set with pro-Palestinian messages.

Writing on social media, the TV personality and America’s Got Talent judge said the hip-hop trio had “took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements”.

Kneecap and the festival’s organisers have been approached for comment.

The band are set to play a number of shows in the US and Canada in coming months.

A US State Department spokesperson said: “Due to privacy and other considerations, and visa confidentiality, we generally will not comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases.”

Warning: This article features language that some readers may find offensive

Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and taking 251 back to Gaza as hostages.

Israel launched a massive military offensive in response, which has killed 51,240 Palestinians – mainly civilians – according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry figures on Monday.

Kneecap have been vocal supporters of the Palestinian people, often raising the conflict in their live performances.

At the end of their set at the second weekend of Coachella, which was not streamed on the festival’s official YouTube page, Kneecap projected three screens of text.

The first message said: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” followed by: “It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes,” and a final screen added: “[Expletive] Israel. Free Palestine.”

During the performance, band member Mo Chara said: “The Irish not so long ago were persecuted at the hands of the Brits, but we were never bombed from the… skies with nowhere to go.

“The Palestinians have nowhere to go.”

The band also led the audience in chants of: “Free, free Palestine”.

On 11 April, during Kneecap’s first Coachella performance, the group faced criticism after leading an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant – which was subsequently omitted from the festival’s livestream – along with calls for a united Ireland.

On Tuesday, Osbourne claimed on social media the band’s actions included “projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech”.

“This band openly support terrorist organizations,” she added.

“I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa,” she said.

A US State Department spokesperson told BBC News NI that the Trump administration “is focused on protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process”.

“When considering revocations, the Department looks at information that arises after the visa was issued that may indicate a potential visa ineligibility under U.S. immigration laws, pose a threat to public safety, or other situations where revocation is warranted,” they added.

“This can include everything from arrests, criminal convictions, and engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with the visa classification, to an overstay.”