Illusionist Uri Geller has criticised Irish rap group Kneecap for their pro-Palestine comments at Coachella, joining others including Sharon Osbourne in condemning the band’s political stance. The controversy intensifies as the group prepares for further US performances.
World-renowned illusionist Uri Geller has openly called for the Irish rap group Kneecap to be imprisoned following their pro-Palestine comments during a performance at the Coachella music festival. The British-Israeli spoonbender, who resides in Tel Aviv, expressed his views strongly on social media.
In a post made on April 24, 2025, Geller directed his criticism at the Belfast-based trio, stating: “Go f*ck yourselves, Kneecap. In Israel no one has heard of you anyway. I support Sharon Osbourne and everyone who has called you out. You are a disgrace to the music industry. Stop exploiting Palestinians for your own self-promotion. I hope you get arrested for supporting terrorists Hamas and Hezbollah and get slung in jail where you belong. Bless Israel and bless the IDF.”
Uri Geller’s comments came in the wake of a broader backlash from a number of high-profile pro-Israel figures, including television personality Sharon Osbourne. Osbourne had previously condemned Kneecap’s on-stage declaration at Coachella, where the group compared Ireland to Palestine and led the crowd in chanting “Free, Free Palestine.” She called for the group’s US visas to be revoked as a result of their political stance during the festival performance.
Despite the controversy and vocal criticism, Kneecap remain scheduled to perform a series of shows in the United States later in 2025. The ongoing backlash highlights the intense global scrutiny surrounding artists who make political statements, particularly those involving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Irish News (Belfast) is reporting these developments.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The content references recent events (April 2025) and ongoing controversies, indicating that it is current and timely.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Uri Geller’s quote appears to be original to this context, based on the date and specific criticism aimed at Kneecap. However, without further verification, it is uncertain if these exact words were previously used elsewhere.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The Irish News (Belfast) is a reputable local news outlet, though not a global leader like BBC or Reuters. It provides regional news and is generally considered reliable for Northern Irish events.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The controversy surrounding artists making political statements, especially regarding the sensitive Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is plausible and supported by similar past incidents involving public figures.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
This narrative handles recent events with generally reliable sources and plausible claims, though the originality of some quotes is not fully verified. The reliability of sources and timeliness of the content contribute to a high confidence level.
