Sharon Osbourne called to dismiss the American work visas of a West Belfast rap group.
Last weekend, Knecap performed in Coachella, an annual music festival in California, where they finished their set with pro-Palestinian messages.
Writing on social networks, the personality of television and the American talent judge declared that the hip-hop trio had “carried their performance at a different level by incorporating aggressive political declarations”.
The ball joint and the festival organizers were approached for comments.
The group is expected to play a number of shows in the United States and Canada in the coming months.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said: “Due to privacy and other considerations, and the confidentiality of the visa, we will not generally comment on the actions of the ministry with regard to specific cases.”
Warning: This article has a language that some readers can find the offensive
The joint member Mo Chara wore a Keffiyeh scarf – a symbol of Palestinian identity – during the group’s performance on April 18 (Getty Images)
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people – mainly civilians – and bringing 251 to Gaza in hostages.
Israel launched a massive military offensive in response, which killed 51,240 Palestinians – mainly civilians – according to personalities from the Ministry of Hamas in Gaza on Monday.
The ball joint was vocal supporters of the Palestinian people, often increasing the conflict in their live performances.
At the end of their set during the second weekend of Coachella, which was not broadcast on the official Youtube page of the festival, the ballot projected three text screens.
The first message indicated: “Israel commits a genocide against the Palestinian people”, followed by: “He is able to the American government who arms and finances Israel despite their war crimes”, and a final screen added: “(Expletive) Israel. Palestine Libre”.
During the performance, the member of the Mo Chara group said: “The Irish not so long ago were persecuted in the hands of the British, but we have never been bombed from … Heaven with nowhere to go.
“The Palestinians have nowhere to go.”
The group also led the public in the songs of: “Free and free Palestine”.
On April 11, during the first performance of Coachella de Knecap, the group was criticized after having run an anti -margaret song Thatcher – which was then omitted from the delivery of the festival – as well as calls to a United Irish.
Mo Chara (L) and Moglai Bap (R) of Knecap occur during the Festival of Music and the Coachella Valley 2025 arts on April 11 in California (Getty Images)
On Tuesday, Osbourne said on social networks that the actions of the group included “projections of anti-Israeli messages and hate speeches”.
“This group openly supports terrorist organizations,” she added.
“I urge you to join me to plead for the revocation of the balloon work visa,” she said.
A spokesperson for the US State Department told BBC News or that the Trump administration “focuses on the protection of our nation and our citizens respecting the highest standards of national security and public security thanks to our visa process”.
“When we consider the revocations, the ministry examines the information that occurs after the delivery of the visa which can indicate ineligibility for the potential visa under American immigration laws, constitute a threat to public security or other situations where the revocation is justified,” they added.
“This may include everything, arrests, criminal convictions and conduct incompatible with the classification of visas, to overcome.”
Sharon Osbourne said Knecap incorporated “aggressive political statements” in their performance during a festival in California (Getty Images)
Ms. Osbourne also criticized the organizers of the festival, Goldenvoice, a subsidiary of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG).
“The reports indicate that Goldenvoice was not aware of the political intentions of the patella when they were reserved,” said Osbourne.
“However, after having witnessed their performance during the first weekend, allowing them to occur again the following weekend suggests the support of their rhetoric and a lack of reasonable diligence,” she continued.
“This behavior raises concerns about the relevance of their participation in such a festival and additional programs that they are reserved for playing in the United States,” said Osbourne.
“I know full well that some people in the industry had written in Goldenvoice, broadcasting their concerns around the reservation of the patella,” she said.
The organizers were also approached for comments.
‘Message that deeply injured’
In response to performance, the organizers of the Nova Music Festival, Tribe of Nova, said that the ball jointly shared messages that “hurt deeply in our community”.
Hundreds of people were killed at the festival and a number of people were removed during the attack on Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In a press release, they said: “Our festival was a space where people met – cultures and beliefs – to celebrate life. This is why we believe that even in the face of ignorance or provocation, our answer must be rooted in empathy, not hatred.
“We invite the members of the patella to visit the Nova exhibition and to discover the stories of those who were murdered, those who survived and those who are still detained hostage.
“Not to be shame or silent – but to connect. To witness. To understand.”
Who are the ball joint?
The group goes through the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and Dj Próvaí (Getty Images)
The ball joint is a rap trio which spoke Irish who courted the controversy with their provocative words and their goods.
The group was trained in 2017 by three friends who go through the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and Dj Próvaí.
Their ascent to glory inspired a semi-fiction film with the actor nominated with Oscars Michael Fassbender.
The film won a Prix de la British Academy of Film (BAFTA) in February 2025.
“ Openly glorifying terror ” – Badenoch
Meanwhile, a Jewish security charity has called upon the police to investigate the videos that seemed to show the support of the Express group in Hezbollah and Hamas.
Hezbollah is a political and military group in Lebanon, while Hamas is a Palestinian armed group and a political movement in the Gaza Strip.
On Monday, a member of Community Security Trust (CST) shared on X a video of a ball joint in London last November.
The images seemed to show a member of the draped group in a Hezbollah flag shouting with the crowd “up Hamas, up hezbollah”.
A spokesperson for the CST said that it was “completely shameful” that Hezbollah and Hamas – both considered terrorist organizations by the United Kingdom and other nations – were “rented with a London scene” with the crowd “encouraged to show their support”.
“We are fully expecting the police to investigate carefully and take the appropriate measures.”
Metropolitan police were invited to an answer.
The leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition to Westminster, accused the balloon of “openly glorifying terrorist groups” (EPA)
On Tuesday, the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, shared the video and renewed his criticisms of the Labor government for last year to settle a legal case carried by the group.
This was linked to a decision made of Badenoch when it was minister to withdraw an art subsidy.
The ball joint received £ 14,250 – the same amount that they were initially granted.
Badenoch posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Perhaps now the work saw the joke openly glorify the evil terrorist groups, they will apologize for their return. But I doubt it.”
The Department of Affairs and Commerce said that “the government’s priority was to provide the change of change that we have promised and protect the taxpayer against additional expenses”.
A spokesperson said that it was “why we did not continue to challenge Knececap’s challenge because we did not believe that it was in the public interest”.
