Moglai Bap of Kneecap onstage during Coachella 20225, where the Irish band’s political statements drew criticism.
VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Irish rap trio Kneecap posted a lengthy statement online Monday after their messages critiquing Israel at Coachella ignited controversy earlier this month.

“They want you to believe words are more harmful than genocide,” began the group’s statement shared on social media. “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.”

While critics have accused Kneecap of making statements in the past supporting the violent actions of Hamas and Hezbollah, the group denied this, alleging that any reports to this effect were the result of “establishment figures” who “combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria” in an attempt to silence the rap group. In the U.K., the trio has also been accused of inciting violence against members of Parliament; they denied this as well, and addressed the families of two murdered MPs, writing, “We send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.”

Kneecap are from Belfast, in the north of Ireland, where sectarian violence claimed many lives before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. In their statement Monday, the band accused the British government of continuing “to supply arms to Israel” and claimed “the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine.”

Kneecap reiterated that their “message has always been — and remains — one of love, inclusion, and hope,” asserting that “No smear campaign will change that.”

Addressing their controversial festival performances, the group wrote, “Days after calling out the US administration at Coachella to applause and solidarity, there is an avalanche of outrage and condemnation by the political classes of Britain.”

“The real crimes are not in our performances; the real crimes are the silence and complicity of those in power,” the band ended in their message. “Shame on them.”

During Kneecap’s first Coachella performance, the group had planned to have several projections with messages about Gaza on them. However, the projections didn’t make it onstage, and the set was cut short on Coachella’s YouTube livestream. “We only heard about it the next day and haven’t heard from anyone officially,” band member Mo Chara told Rolling Stone at the time.

The second weekend, the projections read, “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” and were followed by, “It is being enabled by the U.S. government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes.” A final screen displayed the words “Fuck Israel. Free Palestine,” and by the end of the set, the crowd was chanting “Free Palestine.”

The description of Israel’s reprisals in Gaza after the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, as genocide has been highly contentious. Humanitarian groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have used that term, as have many others; former president Joseph R. Biden and the American Jewish Committee, among other groups that support Israel, have strongly objected to this framing.

Kneecap’s Coachella performances sparked outrage from pro-Israel groups, with organizations and public figures denouncing the group. Last week, Sharon Osbourne called for the band members’ visas to be revoked, accusing their projections of promoting “anti-Israel messages and hate speech.” When asked about Osbourne’s tweets, Mo Chara responded, “Her rant has so many holes in it that it hardly warrants a reply, but she should listen to ‘War Pigs’ that was written by Black Sabbath (her husband).”

From Rolling Stone US.

A leaked video from the set of Avengers: Doomsday has taken the internet by storm, just days after the Russo Brothers confirmed that filming is officially underway — with Robert Downey Jr. returning in the powerful new role of Victor Von Doom.
The brief video clip, which surfaced on social media late Monday night, shows a mystery actor dressed in a grey suit, carrying a briefcase, walking toward a suburban-style house. The actor opens the door, enters, and closes it behind him. While the scene appears simple, the lack of a clear view of the actor’s face has ignited a frenzy of speculation among fans.
Many believe the figure could be Robert Downey Jr., shooting his much-anticipated scenes as the iconic supervillain Doctor Doom. However, others suggest the actor may be someone else entirely, potentially teasing a surprise casting.
Fueling further speculation, one tweet floated the theory that actor Julian McMahon — who previously portrayed Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four films — could be making a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a variant of the character. According to this theory, McMahon’s version may not be a villain, making room for Downey Jr. to embody the darker, central version of Doctor Doom.
On Instagram, the Russo Brothers, who will direct the MCU’s next two Avengers movies, shared the first set photo to announce that filming has finally started. While the picture doesn’t reveal details from the film, it shows a chair with the name Victor Von Doom.
Avengers: Doomsday is slated for a May 1, 2026 release. The film will likely be set after the events of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ which is slated to hit theatres on 25 June 2025.

In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, including many newlywed couples, a strong and unified message is emerging from the Kashmiri Muslim community.

Despite the grief, some political leaders and groups continue to advocate for dialogue with Pakistan. However, many in Kashmir are now voicing a firm stance against the Pahalgam terrorist attack, calling for decisive action rather than diplomacy.

In today’s edition of DNA, Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News, analyzed how the Kashmiri Muslim community is viewing the situation.

Watch Today’s Full Episode

The Pahalgam attack has deeply shaken ordinary Kashmiris. The people have come to realise that Pakistan does not desire peace or progress in Kashmir. This attack has torn away the mask of lies and deceit that Pakistan has worn for decades.

The terrorists who targeted the ‘sindoor’ (vermilion) of 26 newlywed brides in Pahalgam have provoked a powerful vow from Kashmiris — a vow to seek justice and avenge the blood that was spilt.

Now, just 10 kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC), the people of Kashmir are raising their voices and calling for the reclamation of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), even if it means taking up arms.

It is now clear that the resolve to reclaim PoK is growing stronger among Kashmiris. The message is loud and clear: we will not let terrorism divide us, and we will fight to reclaim what rightfully belongs to us.