Kneecap 'unfazed' by legal problems, says friend and director

Irish rappers Kneecap are “unfazed” by their legal problems and controversies kicked up by their anti-Israel pro-Palestinian statements, friend and film director Rich Peppiatt said.

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Peppiatt helped create the Kneecap phenomenon with his 2024 semi-fictionalised film about the hip-hop group from Belfast, who are now playing major festivals around the world.

The trio made headlines by projecting the words “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine” during their gig at US festival Coachella in April, while lyricist Mo Chara is set to appear in a London court on a terror charge today.

Chara, whose real name is Liam Og O Hannaidh, is accused of displaying a flag of Lebanon-based and anti-Israel militant group Hezbollah — a banned organisation — at a gig last year.

“Even through all the controversy at the moment, they just shrug their shoulders and get on with it,” Peppiatt said. “They are just completely unfazed by anything.”