Rock en Seine Festival Faces Funding Cuts Amid controversy over Irish Rap Group Kneecap
Saint-Cloud, France – The Rock en Seine music festival is facing significant financial repercussions after refusing to cancel the performance of Irish rap group Kneecap, whose lyrics have sparked controversy and accusations of anti-semitism. Both the City of Saint-Cloud and the Ile-de-France Region have withdrawn funding from the festival,marking an unprecedented level of political pressure over artistic programming.The City of Saint-Cloud, a long-time supporter of the festival, slashed itS annual subsidy from €40,000 to zero – a first for the event. The Ile-de-France Region followed suit, cancelling its planned aid for the 2025 edition, which totaled €295,000 in direct funding, plus an additional €150,000 in indirect support through ticket purchases.
The controversy centers on Kneecap’s lyrics, which critics allege “desecrate the memory of the 50 French victims of Hamas on October 7, and also all french victims of Hezbollah.” Yonathan Arfi, President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF), voiced these concerns on X (formerly Twitter), calling for the group’s deprogramming.
France’s Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, stated that authorities would maintain vigilance for “any anti-semitic comments, the apology for terrorism or calling for hatred” during Kneecap’s performance.Despite the mounting pressure, festival director matthieu Ducos has defended the decision to allow Kneecap to perform. “It is a group which remains relatively confidential in France but which has gained a lot in notoriety lately, for very good artistic reasons, but also all this controversy which made it gained enormously in visibility and fans,” ducos told AFP.He assured the public that the group would be “held completely properly” accountable for their statements.
The financial fallout from the funding cuts does not, however, threaten the festival’s overall viability. Rock en Seine operates on an annual budget of between €16 and €17 million.
Kneecap’s Rising profile & Previous French Performances
This isn’t Kneecap’s first appearance on the French music scene.The group performed at the Eurockéennes de Belfort in early July and the Green Cabaret in Charleville-Mézières in mid-August, both without incident.
Beyond their live performances, Kneecap is also the subject of a biographical film, Kneecap, released in France in June 2025. The film, which stars the band members themselves alongside Michael Fassbender, chronicles their rise to prominence through a fictionalized narrative. It received six nominations at the British academy Film Awards.
Context: Freedom of Expression vs. Hate Speech in France
The situation highlights a growing tension in France – and across Europe – between the principles of artistic freedom and the need to combat hate speech and anti-Semitism. French law protects freedom of expression, but also prohibits incitement to hatred or violence. The line between legitimate artistic expression and illegal provocation is frequently enough debated, particularly when dealing with politically charged subject matter.
The withdrawal of public funding from Rock en seine sets a precedent that could have a chilling effect on future festival programming, potentially leading organizers to self-censor to avoid similar controversies.The case is highly likely to fuel ongoing discussions about the role of government funding in supporting the arts and the limits of acceptable expression.
