Credit: YouTube Still / Kneecap

Fontaines DC’s Grian Chatten deems Kneecap terror charge “a witch hunt” in new message of support

Sat 14 June 2025 17:48, UK

Grian Chatten, frontman of Irish rock outfit Fontaines DC, has deemed the controversy surrounding rap trio Kneecap a “witch hunt” amid the terror charge against Mo Chara.

Kneecap member Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18th. The charge relates to two on-stage incidents from shows in London in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The controversy has split the music world into two parts. In defence of Kneecap, hundreds of musicians, including Pulp, Fontaines DC and Paul Weller, signed an open letter. On the other hand, DJ and Kneecap producer Toddla T has claimed “a very systematic powerful music agent” is attempting to remove Kneecap from the Glastonbury line-up. Many Kneecap shows have been cancelled as a result.

In a new interview with The Irish Times, frontman Chatten has reinstated his intent to stand with Kneecap. “It’s a categorical witch hunt, and that’s fairly plain to see to anyone who has a discerning eye,” he said, referencing the terror charge. “I stand by their side, and I’m totally unafraid to do so. I think all of us are.” Chatten featured on the recent Kneecap album, Fine Art.

This comes after a recent Fontaines DC set at Primavera Sound in Barcelona saw the Irish group broadcast pro-Palestinian messaging to thousands of fans in attendance. During the song ‘I Love You’, the band projected “free Palestine” banners on the screen. They also projected the message, “Israel is committing genocide, use your voice”, which appeared during the bridge of the song where the lyrics specifically reference genocide and mass graves.

Chatten has claimed that this solidarity is here to stay. “No matter how scary it gets out there, don’t stop talking about Palestine,” he stressed. “If Sinéad O’Connor was still around she’d be speaking up and [would] probably have another media storm raged against her, as well. So, yeah, that’s what I think about it.”

He shrugs: “I just think when you become aware of the facts, how many people are dying… I don’t really want to live in a world where people turn a blind eye to those things. And I think the best thing for us to do, as people with platforms, is to lead by example.”

Fontaines DC and Kneecap will perform together at the Belfast Vital 2025 concert on August 29th at Boucher Road Playing Fields.