Did Kneecap need to apologise?

Kneecap have apologised to the families of two former British MPs who were murdered in recent years, and said they do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, after videos from past gigs came to the attention of police and politicians.

The Belfast rap group released a statement after a video appeared to show a member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, while the other appeared to show a member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP”.

Kneecap took the opportunity to also criticise what they describe as a “smear campaign” against them over their support for Palestine.

They wrote: “Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria”.

What are your thoughts on this? Was Kneecap right to apologise?

Andrea is joined by Alan Buckley, Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, as well as listeners, to discuss.

Image: Kneecap