The Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap has been deemed ineligible to enter Canada, MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime Vince Gasparro announced in a video posted to his X account on Friday.
Kneecap had been scheduled to perform in Toronto and Vancouver next month.
“The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas,” Gasparro said in the X video.
Jewish groups have been asking Ottawa to ban the group since June, along with the English punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, over comments they argue serve to incite antisemitism. Gasparro’s video did not mention Bob Vylan.
On behalf of the Government of Canada I am announcing that on the advice of our officials, we have deemed the group Kneecap ineligible to enter our country.
Our government will not tolerate the advocating of political violence, terrorism or Anti-Semitism and hate more broadly. pic.twitter.com/3KOf84G3bZ
The Belfast trio is known for its anarchic energy, satirical lyrics and use of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement, which seeks to unite Northern Ireland — currently part of the U.K. — with the Republic of Ireland.
The group has faced criticism for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references, and for political statements seeming to glorify militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Kneecap has accused its critics of trying to silence the band because of its support for the Palestinian cause throughout Israel’s war in Gaza. But they have said they don’t support Hezbollah and Hamas, nor do they condone violence.
Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is facing terrorism charges in the U.K., after allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag on stage at a November 2024 gig in London.
Last month, the group announced it was cancelling 15 shows in the U.S. Ó Hannaidh has a court hearing in London scheduled for Sept. 26, and the group said the proximity of that court hearing is what caused those cancellations.
The group was dropped by their U.S. booking agent after a controversial performance at the Coachella music festival in April, where they displayed the messages “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people” and “F–k Israel, Free Palestine” on stage.
CBC News has reached out to Kneecap for comment, but did not immediately hear back.