A Paris suburb will no longer fund next month’s Rock-en-Seine festival after it announced outspoken Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap as one of the performers.
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Saint-Cloud officials announced Thursday, July 18, that it had withdrawn a 40,000 euro ($46,000) subsidy from the annual event, which runs Aug. 21-24.
Kneecap, which has come under fire for incorporating pro-Palestinian messages into recent live shows, remains on the list of performers for the festival’s final day, according to The Independent. (This refers to the ongoing military conflict between Israel and Palestine.)
In a statement late Wednesday, July 17, Saint-Cloud city hall representatives said that they agreed to supply the funding before the festival lineup was finalized. The statement added that the town respects the festival’s programming freedom, and had not sought “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 said.
The Rock-en-Seine 2025 lineup also includes Chappell Roan, Kid Cudi, Doechii, and Queens of the Stone Age.
The Kneecap Controversy, Explained
Formed in 2017, Kneecap consists of Belfast rappers Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin), and DJ Próvaí (J. J. Ó Dochartaigh.)
Rapping in both Irish and English, the trio explore themes of working-class Belfast youth culture, politics, and opposing British rule of Ireland in their lyrics.
Ahead of their Glastonbury Festival set last month, the threesome drew controversy over pro-Palestinian messages displayed during their Coachella performance. Even UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, weighed in. Starmer told the Sun he didn’t believe it was “appropriate” for Kneecap to take the stage in Glasgow.
In the end, though, they did. However, the band’s onstage comments prompted a criminal investigation from Avon and Somerset Police. Ultimately, authorities announced Friday, July 18, that they would take no further action against Kneecap.
#kneecap #FinsburyPark #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/DW7TS62g6j
— #Birow (@Qxj9EpiXyt9sd0O) July 6, 2025
In a statement posted to social media, “The Recap” artists dismissed the investigation as a “political policing intimidation” amidst what was otherwise a “celebration of love and solidarity.”
“Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close,” they wrote.
Featured image by Tabatha Fireman/Dave Benett/Getty Images
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