- Irish rap group Kneecap has cancelled its 15-date US tour after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, was summoned for a court hearing in London over a terrorism-related charge.
- The band says the timing of the hearing makes it impossible to proceed with the tour, which was fully sold out. The case stems from an alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a 2024 gig.
- Kneecap denies supporting any militant groups and says it will return with a bigger tour once the case is resolved.
Kneecap’s US tour is off — and the reason isn’t logistical, it’s legal.
The Irish rap trio has pulled the plug on 15 sold-out shows across major American cities after band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, was ordered to appear in court in London on September 26. The charge? Allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a performance last year — an act the UK government considers a terrorism offence.
Mo Chara denies the allegation, and the band insists it does not support Hezbollah or Hamas. His legal team is pushing to have the case thrown out, citing a technical error in how the charge was filed — specifically, that it may have missed the six-month deadline for prosecution.
The cancelled tour was set to kick off in New York on October 1, just five days after the hearing. With every show sold out, the band says it’s devastated but determined to return with an even bigger tour once the legal dust settles.
Kneecap’s activism has long stirred controversy. Their pro-Palestinian messaging at Coachella earlier this year prompted Sharon Osbourne to call for their US visas to be revoked. Their Glastonbury set also drew criticism, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer questioning its appropriateness. The BBC opted not to livestream the performance, though police later declined to pursue charges.
Despite the turbulence, Kneecap continues to perform in Europe and will honor its Canadian tour dates in Vancouver and Toronto. For now, fans in the US will have to wait — but the trio promises they’re not backing down.
