Paris Festival Funding Withdrawn Over Belfast Rap Group

Saint-Cloud cites “political action” and “calls to violence” in decision impacting Kneecap’s performance

A Paris suburb has pulled its €40,000 subsidy for the renowned Rock-en-Seine music festival. The municipality of Saint-Cloud cited the booking of Belfast rap band Kneecap as the reason for the funding withdrawal.

Controversy Follows Coachella Appearance

Kneecap, a trio performing in both Irish and English, has been a frequent subject of headlines since their April performance at Coachella. During the US festival, the group faced significant backlash for remarks made regarding Gaza.

The controversy led to the cancellation of several Kneecap concerts. UK ministers, including Prime Minister **Keir Starmer**, publicly condemned the band’s participation at the Glastonbury festival.

Saint-Cloud Cites Unacceptable Content

In a statement released Wednesday evening, Saint-Cloud city hall clarified that the funding agreement was in place before the festival’s final lineup was announced. The decision to revoke the subsidy was made on July 3rd.

The city authority emphasized its respect for the festival’s programming autonomy, stating it did not attempt “to enter into any negotiations with a view to influencing the programming.”

“On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality,” the statement read.

Kneecap is slated to perform on the closing day of the Rock-en-Seine festival, which is scheduled to run from August 21st to August 24th.

Legal Issues Surface

One of Kneecap’s members, **Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh**, known by his stage name Mo Chara, faces a terrorism charge. The accusation stems from an alleged incident in May involving the display of a flag associated with Hizbullah, an organisation proscribed as a terrorist entity in the UK.

**Ó hAnnaidh** denies the charge. The band has stated that its members do not endorse Hamas or Hizbullah.

The festival organizers, Rock-en-Seine, were unavailable for immediate comment.

Recent reports indicate that public funding for arts events can be a sensitive issue. For instance, in 2023, a UK council reviewed its funding for a local theatre due to concerns over potentially controversial content, highlighting the scrutiny such decisions often face (The Guardian, 2023).