The Northern Irish rap group Kneecap, which frequently makes anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian comments onstage, canceled its 15-concert tour of the United States on Monday amid a legal dispute in the United Kingdom.
Liam Og O Hannaidh, a member of the group who goes by the stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offense in May. He is accused of displaying a flag in support of the Hezbollah militant group at a concert in November.
Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization in Britain, where it is illegal to display the symbols of such groups. A chief magistrate said he would make a decision on Sept. 26 whether O Hannaidh would stand trial.
Kneecap cited that court hearing when it canceled its U.S. tour, which was set to begin on Oct. 1 with a sold-out show at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York. The group’s four Canadian shows in Vancouver and Toronto are not affected.
It is unclear whether Kneecap had secured U.S. visas. In April, the group lost its visa sponsor after it displayed anti-Israel comments on screens during a performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.
Dan Lambert, Kneecap’s manager, declined to comment beyond the group’s statement.
In its social media posts announcing the tour cancellation, Kneecap called the court proceedings in Britain a witch hunt and promised a larger tour “once we win our court case.”
Over the past two years, Kneecap’s fan base has grown on both sides of the Atlantic. Supporters celebrate both the trio’s rowdy songs, in which they rap in Irish and English over dance beats, and the political statements they make onstage.
Throughout the summer, Kneecap played to huge crowds at festivals in England, Belgium and France. Videos on social media from those events show several audience members waving Palestinian flags.
Michaela Towfighi is a Times arts and culture reporter and a member of the 2025-26 Times Fellowship class, a program for early career journalists.
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