Rap trio Kneecap's performance at the Eden Project in the UK has been cancelled.
The Eden Sessions are a series of concerts that take place at the Cornwall botanical gardens yearly, with this year's events including performances from Biffy Clyro, The Script and Texas.
A spokesperson said: "Eden Sessions Limited announced today that the Kneecap show at Eden Project scheduled for July 4 2025 has been cancelled.
"Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded.
"The refund process will commence from Wednesday, April 30 2025. Refunds will be processed against the original payment cards used. Purchasers should allow six working days for funds to be received into their accounts."
A reason for the show's cancellation was not given.
In a statement posted on social media yesterday, the group, comprising Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, said they "reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual".
"Kneecap's message has always been - and remains - one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that," they added.
They said they have "never supported" Hamas or Hezbollah.
In clarifying their remarks, the band said: "Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history."
In their statement, the Belfast trio also addressed the families of murdered MPs David Amess and Jo Cox, saying "we never intended to cause you hurt" after a member of the group allegedly told the crowd at a gig to "kill your local MP".
Labour MP Jo Cox was stabbed and shot in 2016 while Conservative MP David Amess was stabbed to death in 2021.
Video emerged of the group at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
The Metropolitan Police is assessing the footage, along with a video clip from another concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" - groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.
The daughter of David Amess said the police should investigate the footage of a Kneecap group member appearing to call for Tory MPs to be killed.
Asked if the police should investigate the matter, Katie Amess said: "Oh, absolutely. If the police had followed through and looked into threats against my dad the night before the murder, my dad would still be here.
"So we can't wait until after the act and then say, 'oh dear, lessons will be learned'. No, lessons are never learned.
"When these things happen, when there's a warning, when there's an incitement to do this, we have to get ahead of these things in order to prevent loss of innocent lives. And if we'd have done that with my dad, he would still be here.
She said Kneecap's statement after the footage emerged was "gaslighting" and "not an apology".
"It was absurd, that's not an apology. It's deflection, it is not taking accountability, it's making excuses.
"They don't understand what they're talking about, they obviously aren't educated enough in what they're speaking about to think that they can use those excuses and everybody will be like, 'oh, never mind, let's move on to something else'.
"They haven't taken any accountability," Ms Amess said.
Earlier, Tánaiste Simon Harris welcomed clarification from Kneecap surrounding recent comments, while the UK government labelled their apology to the families of murdered MPs "half-hearted".
Speaking at a meeting of the Cabinet, Mr Harris said there had been a lot of commentary around the band, and he could understand that it was important they clarify any comments attributed to them.
"We need to get back to the focus here being on the fact that there are children in Gaza dying. There are children in Gaza being killed.
Mr Harris said "tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza have been killed as a result of the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces".
Yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin called on Kneecap to "urgently clarify" if it supported Hamas and Hezbollah, saying that such backing would be unacceptable.
UK PM spokesman says band should apologise
Despite the statement from the band, the UK Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the band still needed to apologise.
"They should apologise. I think you have seen what they have said, I think it is half-hearted.
"We completely reject in the strongest possible terms the comments that they’ve made, particularly in relation to MPs and intimidation as well as obviously the situation in the Middle East.
"It’s right that the police are looking into these videos."
Meanwhile, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper urged the promoters of gigs featuring the rap trio and their management to "take some responsibility".
Asked if the band should still perform at the Glastonbury Festival in June, Ms Cooper told Times Radio: "That’s a matter for the organisers."
She went on: "What they’re reported to have said is a total disgrace.
"It’s dangerous and irresponsible to say these sorts of things, and I hope that everybody involved - not just the band - but also those involved surrounding them and those involved in events, also take some responsibility on this and looks very seriously at the consequences of these kinds of remarks, not just what’s been said."
