Sharon Osbourne is urging U.S. officials to revoke the work visa of Irish rap group Kneecap after their pro-Palestinian performance at Coachella, criticizing them for making political statements on stage.
Posting on X, Osbourne said the group’s set included “aggressive political statements,” including projected messages she described as anti-Israel hate speech and support for terrorist organizations.
"Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements."
"Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support terrorist organizations."
"This behavior raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA."
A Kneecap spokesperson had a response ready for The Independent when asked what they thought of Osbourne's criticism.
“Our statements aren’t aggressive. Murdering 20,000 children is, though. Or executing 15 medics and burying them and their ambulances.”
During the set, Kneecap member Mo Chara led a “Free Palestine” chant and projected messages such as “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people” and “It is being enabled by the US government.” The band’s actions reportedly caught organizers off guard, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Osbourne condemned Coachella and its organizer Goldenvoice for allowing political messages, arguing that music should “serve as an escape, not a stage for political discourse.” She has also criticized Green Day for similar remarks during their Coachella performance, though she acknowledged their right to an opinion.
Despite her husband Ozzy Osbourne’s history of political songs like “War Pigs,” Sharon maintained that a festival setting is inappropriate for such statements.
She called on others to join her in advocating for Kneecap’s visa revocation, claiming some in the industry had warned Goldenvoice ahead of the show.
@MrsSOsbourne/X
@MrsSOsbourne/X
Some folks were exhausted just looking at the length of her argument and went for a quick reply.
@spojw/X
Some were favorable to Osbourne's opinion on the right-leaning X.
People took issue with her throwing the phrase "moral and spiritual integrity" around—especially about Coachella, of all festivals.
@witchytwitchytv/X
@mothrasattorney/x
Many commenters pointed out the hypocrisy inherent in her making this statement about calling for politics to be out of music festivals.
The hypocrisy being that, well, "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath, was sung by her own husband, and she currently lives on the proceeds from that smash hit.
@caljj00/X
@doughgirlphresh/X
Lots of people disagreed with her claim that political discourse doesn't have a place in music.
@M_Murphy2004/X
Really, it's what makes artistic expression important.
Her call for the revocation of their visa is not really what America still thinks it's about.
@somehowshyaries/X
Her post might have had an effect she did not anticipate: creating more fans for Kneecap.
@marileezafari/X
Osbourne's comments found a receptive audience, but also cast her as a person who needs to listen to her own husband's music.
In response to criticism they have received about their actions, Kneecap have collectively shrugged, and continued to pivot to reiterating factual statistics about the murders of Palestinian children.
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John McDonnell/Getty Images
@eltokh/X
