tiny lemmy 

Sharon Osbourne urges US to revoke Kneecap rappers’ visas after Israel criticism

c/world · u/RubberDuck@lemmy.world · 100 points

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Sharon Osbourne has urged US authorities to revoke work visas for Kneecap after the Irish language rap group used a performance at Coachella to denounce Israeli attacks on Gaza.

The TV presenter accused the band of hate speech and supporting terrorist organisations and said it should not be allowed to perform in the US. “I urge you to join me in advocating for the revocation of Kneecap’s work visa,” she exhorted followers on X on Tuesday.

Fox News commentators also condemned the band and accused it of bringing “Nazi Germany” sentiments to America.

Kneecap scorned the Fox News comments and posted supportive messages from fans, saying it had received thousands of such endorsements as well as “hundreds of violent Zionist threats”. Almost all the concerts of a US tour scheduled for October have sold out, it added.

The trio, Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara from Belfast and DJ Próvaí from Derry, have built a following in the US with a mix of Irish republican totems, punk spirit and a film that stormed last year’s Utah film festival.

During their set last weekend at Coachella, the California desert music festival, Mo Chara said Britain had persecuted Irish people but not bombed them from the skies. “The Palestinians have nowhere to go.”

The performers led the audience in chants of “free, free Palestine” and screened pro-Palestinian messages on to screens. “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” said one. “It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes,” said another. The last used an expletive against Israel.

Osbourne, a judge on the TV show America’s Got Talent, said the festival had “compromised its moral and spiritual integrity” by allowing Kneecap and Green Day to denounce Israel over the 18-month war.

“Music’s primary purpose is to unite people. It should not be a venue for promoting terrorist organisations or spreading hate”, she said, singling out Kneecap’s “aggressive” political statements.

“This band openly support terrorist organisations. This behaviour raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA.”

Fox News commentators compared the band’s comments to Nazi Germany, with one saying the band should be removed from “authority positions” and that the “values of education” should be re-instilled.

Kneecap posted a clip of the segment and said the commentator’s admission that she had not previously heard of the band was the “only part of this shite that made any sense”.

The group said they had planned to denounce “US-backed genocide in Gaza” at an earlier performance in Coachella, on 11 April, but that the comments did not appear on the screen. The band also complained that the festival’s livestream did not carry a chant celebrating the death of Margaret Thatcher.

Comments

u/Case@lemmynsfw.com · 28 points

She ruined the only opportunity I had to see Iron Maiden.

They dropped off the Ozzfest tour that year because Sharon was a cock-juggling-thunder-cunt right before they got to my town.

u/StupidBrotherInLaw@lemmy.world · 1 points

My initial reaction was to agree. Of course it's all rubbish! Then I thought to take a few minutes to challenge my assumptions. Could actually _good_ reality television exist? I found only two examples.

First is Nailed It, which is far less dramatic, more fun, and designed so that all contestants will fail but they are aware of this going in.

Second is Sasuke, known as Ninja Warrior outside of Japan.

That's it. The rest is shite.

u/Haus@kbin.earth · 23 points

Meanwhile "War Pigs" is playing loudly in the back of my head.

u/StupidBrotherInLaw@lemmy.world · 6 points

It must be corn, it's the only grass I can think of that grows tall enough for that horse's lofty station.

Sharon Osborne can fuck off. She's only notable because she rode Ozzy's coattails, and only then because of rubbish reality TV.

u/nokturne213@sopuli.xyz · 18 points

For anyone unfamiliar:

::: spoiler War Pigs by Black Sabbath

Generals gathered in their masses

Just like witches at black masses

Evil minds that plot destruction

Sorcerer of death's construction

In the fields, the bodies burning

As the war machine keeps turning

Death and hatred to mankind

Poisoning their brainwashed minds

Oh, Lord, yeah

Politicians hide themselves away

They only started the war

Why should they go out to fight?

They leave that role to the poor, yeah

Time will tell on their power minds

Making war just for fun

Treating people just like pawns in chess

Wait 'til their judgement day comes, yeah

Now in darkness, world stops turning

Ashes where their bodies burning

No more war pigs have the power

Hand of God has struck the hour

Day of judgement, God is calling

On their knees, the war pigs crawling

Begging mercy for their sins

Satan laughing, spreads his wings

Oh, Lord, yeah

:::

The song was originally titled Walpurgis and they had to change the title.

"Walpurgis is sort of like Christmas for Satanists. And to me, war was the big Satan", said bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler. "It wasn't about politics or government or anything. It was Evil itself. So I was saying 'generals gathered in the masses / just like witches at black masses' to make an analogy. But when we brought it to the record company, they thought 'Walpurgis' sounded too Satanic. And that's when we turned it into 'War Pigs'. But we didn't change the lyrics, because they were already finished."

u/RowRowRowYourBot@sh.itjust.works · 2 points

Nobody is cool asa middle aged parent but some think they are entitled to be considered such because they were cool as kids.

u/Bonesince1997@lemmy.world · 8 points

I like to think of Steven Tyler. Big time rocker. Smooth. In the 70s. Then went on to host a singing show while being the lamest. Somewhere along the line they sellout and abandon former coolness. Like a 180! Don't even deserve the title.

u/madame_gaymes@programming.dev · 16 points

My mother's best friend's name is Sharon. Finally, someone else said it! /j

but also, what's up with these rock n roll people, meant to be sticking it to the man, sucking the man's dick?

u/Inaminate_Carbon_Rod@lemmy.world · 33 points

Love being lectured on “music’s true purpose”

Talk about a fucking high horse. I’ve never seen one so big! WHAT DOES IT EAT?

u/Bonesince1997@lemmy.world · 10 points

She is just mad the truth is coming out. And all she can do is try and kick people out of the country she doesn't like who aren't spouting the approved messages. Sharon and her gang (I'd say likes to see, but I feel they bury their heads) like the high number of dead--dead babies, children, mothers, women, aid workers, journalists, and the destruction of schools and hospitals. It's why they stand in the way of truthful reporting. All while claiming everyone is a terrorist and everything is antisemitic. These people have no shame! They are the liars.

u/Airowird@lemm.ee · 9 points

Fox News commentators also condemned the band and accused it of bringing “Nazi Germany” sentiments to America.

The hypocrisy is baffling. As if Fox ~~News~~ Propaganda hasn't been bringing fascism to the US for decades.