Kneecap’s Manager Reveals the Group Have Received Death Threats Following Coachella Performance

Another day and the fallout from Kneecap’s Coachella performance continues. The band’s manager Daniel Lambert has revealed the group has received death threats following their pro-Palestinian message during the festival’s second weekend.

Since their performance, the Belfast rap trio have become the target of what Lambert describes as “hundreds of violent Zionist threats.” The group’s final on-screen message, “Fuck Israel. Free Palestine,” has since sparked a wave of backlash online. Furthermore within the music industry itself there have even been calls for the revocation of Kneecap’s US work visa.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio in Ireland, Lambert confirmed the seriousness of the threats, saying they were “too severe” to describe on air. Despite the intensity of the response, he subsequently defended the group’s stance. He further highlighted their background as working-class Irish speakers from a post-conflict society who’ve built a career on challenging power structures through art.

“To the band’s massive credit,” Lambert said, “they have the bravery and the conviction to stand up for what’s right even if it harms their career or income. That deserves praise.”

When pressed on whether the group’s messaging tars all Israelis, Lambert clarified his statement. “When you refer to ‘Israel’ in messaging, as we did, that you’re referring to the Israeli government” he added.

He also pushed back on accusations that Kneecap’s message was offensive or inflammatory, saying such criticism was a form of “moral hysteria” that distracts from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “If someone is hurt by the truth, that’s for them to be hurt by,” he said. “The real issue is tens of thousands of people being killed by Israeli forces.”

Lambert emphasised the overwhelming support Kneecap received from fans at the festival. He noted that “hundreds of young Americans” have since approached the band to thank them for speaking out. “They said the lads had said something that wasn’t being said in America,” he added.

Kneecap remain one of the few acts using major festival stages to deliver unapologetically political messages. Whether you agree or not, they’re clearly not backing down.