Northern Irish rap group Kneecap claimed on Thursday they were "banned" from advertising one of their posters on the London Underground tube network- the latest in a series of censorship allegations by the trio over their pro-Palestine and wider political content.
The three-member band, consisting of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Provaí said in a post on social media they were blocked from advertising their 18 September concert at Wembley Arena on the London Underground over fears of "widespread and serious offence".
The group slammed ban, saying it was due to "political policing and interference", and adding that their regular pro-Palestine messaging during concerts has led to additional instances of reported censorship.
This included a decision by the BBC not to broadcast their highly publicised Glastonbury performance live, following calls by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for them to be removed from the festival lineup.
Kneecap, who rap in Irish Gaelic, emphasised in a post on X that the group were previously "using the tube to advertise loads of times for gigs, records and our movie, all without issue", the latter referencing their 2024 BAFTA winning self-titled dramedy film.
The group have also displayed billboards across the British capital, including one that reads "More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara"- a subversive twist on the racist slogan "No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs" used in the UK during in the mid-20th century.
"How petty can political policing and interference get," Kneecap added. "Speak out against genocide and they'll use every single angle they can to silence you."
They concluded their statement with the phrase "See it. Say it. Censored"- a play on the British Transport Police’s "See it. Say it. Sorted" campaign, which encourages commuters to report suspicious activity.
Transport for London (TfL) said it approves adverts on a "case-by-case basis" and deemed Kneecap's poster as one that would generate controversy and seriously offend commuters.
According to the BBC, it was this specific poster featuring an image of a balaclava that was rejected, rather than a blanket ban on Kneecap advertising.
However, TfL has yet to publicly respond to Kneecap’s claims, nor has it been clarified whether the rejection came directly from London’s Tube network or from an affiliated advertising agency.
The Irish rap group has been at the centre of media scrutiny in recent months after member Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with terror offences for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a group proscribed by the UK, during a London gig last year.
The recent political storm surrounding the group intertwines with controversy around UK punk rap duo Bob Vylan, which is facing a police investigation after frontman Bobby Vylan led crowds in chants of "Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)" during the group’s set at the Glastonbury Festival.
Pro-Palestine activists and music fans have defended the punk rock duo’s stance, stressing that their criticism was intended to highlight the Israeli military’s genocidal conduct in Gaza since 7 October 2023.