Sharon Osbourne calls 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.”

Ms Osbourne was also critical of the organisers of the festival, Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).

“Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was unaware of Kneecap’s political intentions when they were booked,” Osbourne said.

“However, after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence,” she continued.

“This behaviour raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA,” Osbourne said.

“I know for a fact that certain people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice, airing their concerns around the booking of Kneecap,” she said.

The organisers have also been approached for comment.

In response to the performance, the organisers of the Nova Music Festival, Tribe of Nova, said Kneecap shared messaging that “deeply hurt many in our community”.

Hundreds of people were killed at the festival and a number of people were abducted during the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023.

In a statement, they said: “Our festival was a space where people came together -across cultures and beliefs – to celebrate life. That’s why we believe that even in the face of ignorance or provocation, our response must be rooted in empathy, not hate.

“We invite the members of Kneecap to visit the Nova Exhibition and experience first-hand the stories of those who were murdered, those who survived, and those who are still being held hostage.

“Not to shame or silence – but to connect. To witness. To understand.”

Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The group was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Their rise to fame inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.

The film won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025.

Meanwhile, a Jewish security charity has called for police to investigate videos appearing to show the group express support for Hezbollah and Hamas.

Hezbollah is a political and military group in Lebanon, while Hamas is a Palestinian armed group and political movement in the Gaza Strip.

On Monday, a member of Community Security Trust (CST) shared on X a video from a Kneecap gig in London last November.

The footage appeared to show a member of the group draped in a Hezbollah flag shouting to the crowd “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.

A CST spokeswoman said it was “utterly disgraceful” that Hezbollah and Hamas – both considered terrorist organisations by the UK and other nations – were being “lauded from a London stage” with the crowd “encouraged to show their support”.

“We fully expect the police to investigate this thoroughly and take appropriate action.”

The Metropolitan Police has been asked for a response.

On Tuesday, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch shared the video and renewed her criticism of the Labour government for last year settling a legal case brought by the group.

It related to a decision Badenoch made when she was a minister to withdraw an arts grant.

Kneecap was awarded £14,250 – the same amount they were initially granted.

Badenoch posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Perhaps now Labour see Kneecap openly glorifying evil terror groups, they will apologise for rolling over. But I doubt it.”

The Department for Business and Trade said the government’s “priority is to get on delivering the change we promised and protect the taxpayer from further expense”.

A spokesperson said this was “why we did not continue to contest Kneecap’s challenge as we did not believe it to be in the public interest”.