At their recent Primavera Sound performance in Barcelona, Fontaines D.C. displayed messages including “Free Palestine” and “Israel is committing genocide, use your voice.” For Grian, standing up for justice is non-negotiable
Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten has called the terror charge against Kneecap’s Mo Chara a “categorical witch hunt”, voicing unwavering support for his fellow Irish musician. The 29-year-old singer condemned the decision by London’s Metropolitan Police, who charged Mo Chara for allegedly displaying a flag supporting the proscribed organisation Hezbollah during Kneecap’s November 2024 performance at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London. The rapper is due in court on June 18.
Despite the controversy, Chatten remains defiant and committed to using his voice to speak out for causes he believes in — particularly Palestine.
At their recent Primavera Sound performance in Barcelona, Fontaines D.C. displayed messages including “Free Palestine” and “Israel is committing genocide, use your voice.” For Grian, standing up for justice is non-negotiable.
In an interview with The Irish Times, he stated, “It’s a categorical witch hunt, and that’s fairly plain to see to anyone who has a discerning eye. I stand by their side, and I’m totally unafraid to do so. I think all of us are.”
Chatten also invoked the spirit of the late Sinéad O’Connor, the Irish icon known for her fearless activism. He said, “No matter how scary it gets out there, don’t stop talking about Palestine. If Sinéad O’Connor was still around, she’d be speaking up and probably have another media storm raged against her, as well. So, yeah, that’s what I think about it.”
He continued, “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.”
Kneecap, who fuse hip-hop with political commentary, responded to the charge with a fierce statement on Instagram, denying wrongdoing and criticising the UK government.
“We deny this ‘offense’ and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction,” they wrote.
The trio pointed out the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating: “14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us.”
They concluded with defiance: “We are on the right side of history. You are not. We will fight you in court. We will win.”
Despite facing backlash and cancelled gigs, Kneecap are still scheduled to perform at Glastonbury Festival’s West Holts stage on Saturday, June 28 at 4pm — though there have been political calls to ban the group from the lineup. For Chatten, the backlash is a price worth paying. As artists, he believes their role goes beyond entertainment — it’s about using their platforms to challenge silence and encourage awareness.
