THE BBC has been criticised after the broadcaster cut the live feed to Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance.
The rap trio said the corporation had contacted them hours before they were due to go live to say their performance would be available online on iPlayer from Saturday evening.
However, fans were left unimpressed after the BBC cut the live stream of the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury ahead of Kneecap's set at 4pm on Saturday.
The broadcaster had shown artist Bob Vylan’s set before the Irish trio were set to perform, but cut away from the stage after it was announced they were on next.
Earlier on Saturday, a BBC spokesperson said: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
“Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines. We don’t always live stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap’s performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets.”
Despite the broadcaster announcing just hours before Kneecap were due to perform that they would not show the set live, fans have taken to social media to vent their frustration over the decision.
One person said: “BBC really are just gonna cut the feed for Kneecap. Completely unprecedented.”
A second added: “We cut the live feed for Kneecap at Glastonbury and we mute the boos for Israel at Eurovision. You see how it works yet?”
A third person said: “Pretty cowardly of the BBC and Tim Davie not to livestream Kneecap.”
Meanwhile, with huge crowds building outside the West Holts Stage at Worthy Farm almost an hour before the gig was due to take place, the festival decided to close off the stage to try and prevent overcrowding, it has been reported.
Despite the cut-off, the stage at the festival was still full, with a sea of Irish and Palestinian flags being flown above the thousands of fans.
The band led the crowd in chants of "Free Palestine" along with joking that the "BBC editor is gonna have some job".
Adding: "Sometimes we feel helpless, sometimes we feel like we're not doing enough, and that's probably true sometimes.
"But the difference it makes to people in Palestine, when they see people from the other side of the world, to see this many people."
Mo Chara also declared to the crowd, “Glastonbury, I’m a free man!” after recently being charged under the UK Terrorism Act.
His comments come after he, real name Liam Og O hAnnaidh, 27, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah, while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a gig in November last year.
Last week, the rapper, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Free Mo Chara T-shirts.
He was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
Following the calls from politicians, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for the trio not to perform at the festival, the BBC’s coverage of Kneecap’s performance has been at the centre of much speculation.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC “should not be showing” the trio’s set in a post on social media last week.
