Sharon Osbourne calls for the revocation of KNECAP’s work visa

Sharon Osbourne has shared her contempt by the Northern Irish hip-hop-trio-crisp and the free-speaking messaging present in their recent Coachella set that goes so far as demanding withdrawal of their work visa.

Osbourne shared his comments on social media on Tuesday (April 22), days after Knecap played the second weekend at the Coachella festival. Friday (April 18), the performance was to recognize for the band’s use of strong anti-Israel feelings during their set feelings, as they had claimed, censored during their first weekend appearance.

“Israel commits genocide against the Palestinian people,” the projected messages read. “It is activated by the US government that moves and fonder Israel despite their war crimes. F – K Israel; Free Palestina.”

These messages were not the only pro-Palestinian feelings that were shared during the 2025 edition of the festival. In particular, Green Day changed lyrics to reflect the situation of Palestinian children, while names such as Bob Vylan and Blonde Redhead showed Palestinian flags under their sets. In the event of the latter, the onstage event was the soundtrack of sound from Mahmoud Khalil-the withheld Columbia University student, currently held in an immigration detention center after his role in protests on campus.

However, Osbourne shared a long -lasting reaction to the apparent politicization of Coachella and noted that this year’s edition will be remembered “as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity.”

“Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, relieved this by giving artists the opportunity to use the Coachella scene as a platform for political expression,” she wrote. “At a time when the world is experiencing significant turmoil, music must serve as an escape, not a stage of political discourse.

“While festivals like Coachella show remarkable talent from all over the world are the primary purpose of music to unite people. It should not be a place to promote terrorist organizations or spread hatred.”

When Osbourne continued, she noticed that she was a fan of Saturday Headliners Green Day, she felt that their own views on events in the Middle East would have been more appropriate if they were shared “at their own concert, not at a festival.” However, Knecap’s feelings were considered irregular that she closed by asking supporters to participate in her “advocate for the revocation of Knecap’s work visa.”

“Knecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to another level by incorporating aggressive political statements,” Osbourne wrote. “Their actions included projections of anti-Israeli messages and hatred, and this band supports open terrorist organizations.

“This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows that they are booked to play in the United States. Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was not aware of Knecap’s political intentions when booked. After witnessing their performance in the first weekend, so they could perform again the following weekend, suggest support for their rhetoric.”

In the wake of Knecap’s performance, Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett allegedly claimed he was “blind -sided” of the band’s actions. While CEO of Hybe America and former talent manager Scooter Braun – who previously staged exhibitions in Los Angeles and Israel on October 7, 2023 -attacks in Israel – defended Tollett, Osbourne disbeliefly expressed the fact that anyone who attended exhibitions like Brauns could book an artist like Knecap to the festival.

“In addition, Independent Artists Group, which represents knee caps, includes individuals of Jewish heritage,” she continued. “It is condescending that they have not used their attitudes to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages. Shame them.

“As someone with both Irish Catholic on my mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my fathers and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved,” she added. “Goldenvoice’s claim to be ‘blind -sided’ of Knecap’s performance seems impossible in view of the circumstances. I know a fact that some people in the industry had written to Goldenvoice and issued their concerns about the booking of KNECAP.”

On their side, KNECAP has not responded directly to the criticism of their messages, rather than sharing examples of the countless supporting messages they received in the wake of their Coachella set. The group returns to North America in October for another race of live dates.