Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Ellie Muir

Rap group Kneecap reignites spat with Sharon Osbourne as she supports far-right Tommy Robinson rally

Rap group Kneecap have reignited their feud with Sharon Osbourne after her public endorsement of a rally organised by the right-wing activist Tommy Robinson.

On Friday, the former X Factor judge signalled her support for the “Unite the Kingdom” rally happening next month in the UK, commenting on Instagram: “See you at the march.”

Kneecap, known for using political activism in their music, responded by reposting an opinion piece from Metro newspaper with the headline: “Sharon Osbourne attending a Tommy Robinson march proves Kneecap were right about her.” The group wrote in a caption on X: “F*** @MrsSOsbourne [Sharon Osbourne].”

Osbourne’s endorsement of Robinson also led youth homelessness charity Centrepoint, which she worked with on a recent fundraising campaign, to drop her. A Centrepoint spokesperson said the charity has “no plans” to work with Osbourne in the future.

“Political activity like this runs counter to our values and our long history of supporting young people regardless of their background, religion or ethnicity,” the statement read.

Irish rap group Kneecap were criticised by Osbourne after their politically charged Coachella set in 2025 (AFP/Getty)

The Independent has contacted Osbourne for comment.

Kneecap and Osbourne’s first public spat came after the group commented on Israel’s war in Gaza during their 2025 Coachella performance. They projected messages like “F*** Israel, free Palestine” on screens behind them on stage, and accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the Middle East.

The band, who are known for hits including “C.E.A.R.T.A” and “Get Your Brits Out”, often lead “Free Palestine” chants on stage.

Osbourne, 73, who is a vocal supporter of Israel, claimed in a social media post that Kneecap should have their US work visas revoked and criticised the festival’s organiser, GoldenVoice, for booking them.

Sharon Osbourne has publicly endorsed Tommy Robinson’s rally in London next month (AFP/Getty)

She wrote on X at the time: “Kneecap, an Irish rap group, took their performance to a different level by incorporating aggressive political statements. Their actions included projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech, and this band openly support terrorist organisations.

“This behaviour raises concerns about the appropriateness of their participation in such a festival and further shows they are booked to play in the USA.”

At the time, a spokesperson for the band told The Independent: “Statements aren’t aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is though. Or executing 15 medics and burying them and their ambulances.”

The “Unite the Kingdom” rally, organised by Robinson, is set to take place in London on 16 May. The last protest in September drew more than 110,000 attendees and sparked a counter demonstration, “March Against Fascism”, which drew more than 5,000 supporters, according to the BBC.

Kneecap is made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, the stage names of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJÓ Dochartaigh, respectively.

The group, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, has won several independent film awards and a Bafta for their comedy titled Kneecap in 2024, which depicted their rise to fame.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.