Irish rap trio Kneecap have said they are planning to take legal action against a member of the Canadian government for making statements about the band that they have branded "wholly untrue and deeply malicious".
On Friday, the Belfast/Derry act issued a statement in response to the Canadian government's decision to ban them from entering Canada for a series of gigs.
The announcement of the ban was made on Friday by Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, a parliamentary secretary, in a video posted on X. He said the decision followed concerns over the group's "advocating of political violence" and alleged support for proscribed organisations.
In his video statement, Mr Gasparro said Kneecap had "engaged in actions and made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws" and had "amplified political violence" and "publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas".
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.
— Vince Gasparro (@vgasparro) September 19, 2025
Our government will not tolerate the advocating of political violence, terrorism or Anti-Semitism and hate more broadly. pic.twitter.com/3KOf84G3bZ
Kneecap had been due to play four Canadian dates in October, with shows scheduled in Toronto on 14 and 15 October and in Vancouver on 22 and 23 October. Today's decision means those concerts will not go ahead as planned.
In a statement posted on their Instagram account on Friday, Kneecap dismissed Mr Gasparro's words as "wholly untrue and deeply malicious" and pointed out that no member of the band has been "convicted of ANY crime in ANY country EVER".
The band have previously said they do not support Hamas or Hezbollah.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara), faces a charge in the UK linked to an alleged display of a Hezbollah flag in 2024, which he denies.
The case has been adjourned until 26 September.
