Sharon Osbourne and Disturbed’s David Draiman called for the “revocation of Kneeecap’s work visa” after the Irish band and several other bands expressed their solidarity with the people of Palestine at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival.
Draiman reposted Osbourne’s original post with a caption that read: “Thank you @sharonosbourne”
After their Coachella weekend one performance, the Irish rap-punk group Kneecap reported that their “messaging on the US-backed genocide in Gaza somehow never appeared on screens.” The band assured fans that they’ll be “Back next Friday Coachella and it’ll be sorted.”
Kneecap will embark on their U.S. tour on October 1st at The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City. The group, praised internationally by fans and artists alike, has sold out their entire U.S. tour. Resale tickets are being sold for as much as $406 for their NYC show at The Rooftop at Pier 17.
RELATED: Music Artists You Should Know: Kneecap
Sharon Osbourne is the wife of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, famed for songs like “War Pigs.” The anti-war protest song was released in 1970 and is the opening track from Black Sabbath’s second studio album, Paranoid.
In March 2021, Sharon Osbourne was fired from ‘The Talk’ amid racism claims.
In her lengthy Instagram post, Sharon Osbourne directly calls out Coachella festival organizers Goldenvoice.
“Coachella 2025 will be remembered as a festival that compromised its moral and spiritual integrity. Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, facilitated this by allowing artists to use the Coachella stage as a platform for political expression.
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.Reports indicate that Goldenvoice was unaware of Kneecap’s political intentions when they were booked.
However, after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support of their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence. Scooter Braun, who has been involved in organizing the Nova Music Festival exhibit—a tribute to the victims of the October 7th attacks in Israel—has defended Goldenvoice CEO Paul Tollett as he attended the Nova Exhibit. If Tollett visited the Nova exhibit, he would have seen the portraits of every person that was killed that day and heard some of their voices on cell phone recordings, sent home to their loved ones.
It is difficult to comprehend how if somebody saw this exhibit firsthand that they could book a band on their festival that is in support of what was done that day and supports the group responsible for this mass murder. Not one IDF solider was killed that day, just 1400 innocent civilians.
The Independent Artists Group, which represents Kneecap, includes individuals of Jewish heritage. It is disheartening that they have not used their positions to prevent the promotion of such controversial messages. As someone with both Irish Catholic on my Mothers side and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage on my Fathers side, and extensive experience in the music industry, I understand the complexities involved. I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneeecap’s work visa.”
Naturally, pro-Palestine supporters and Kneecap fans weren’t having it and chimed in the comments, against the grain of Osbourne and pro-Israel supporters.
RELATED: Here are all the Coachella artists who shared solidarity for Palestine
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