As Kneecap court controversy – and one member faces a terror charge – Sky News speaks to artists about the risks of being outspoken at a time the world is so divided.
It’s where Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap are set to play their first major show since band member Mo Chara was charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of the terrorist group Hezbollah at one of their gigs. Before that, there had been calls for festivals to reconsider booking the band over their political stances, and several have done, which prompted artists like Brian Eno, the Mystery Jets and CMAT to sign an open letter accusing Westminster and the British media of a campaign to “remove Kneecap from the public eye”.
They put their names to wording that said “in a democracy, no political figures… have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals.” The band have since claimed they’re the victims of “political policing” designed to silence their views on Gaza.
So what’s the reality like for artists who are outspoken at a time when the world is so divided? As some of the biggest names in music gathered in London for the Ivors, an annual celebration of songwriting, Self-Esteem – aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor – said the level of scrutiny can be “terrifying”.
She told Sky News: “The problem with the internet is you say one thing, which gets scrutinised, and then you shit yourself, you do… then you’re advised not to. And then you’re like ‘don’t advise me not to!’ “You second-guess anything you want to say any more… but any time I do that, I think ‘well that’s why you’ve got to say it then’.” She said it can be frustrating that focus turns onto pop stars’ opinions instead of “the people doing the bad things”.
