Music has consistently aimed to shed light on global issues. Musicians are indeed true artists. It’s essential for them to witness things around them and respond accordingly. While we might not always concur with viewpoints expressed by performers such as Ted Nugent regarding firearms, he ought to retain the freedom to express his beliefs.

Currently, the realms of politics and music are intersecting more frequently. Not long ago, during a performance in Manchester, England, Bruce Springsteen criticized the Trump administration. In response, President Trump disparaged the musician with derogatory remarks.

Trump also recently took to his personal social media network to suggest he could have the Justice Department investigate potential campaign fraud by Kamala Harris, whom he defeated in a run for the presidency in 2024. The

president questioned whether Springsteen

, U2’s Bono, Beyoncé, and Oprah Winfrey were paid to campaign for Harris. There is no factual evidence of that happening.

Kneecap’s Mo Chara is facing a terrorism accusation in London.

On the opposite side of the band,

Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap

is dealing with its own problems. The team has consistently

had politically laden lyrics

, particularly regarding the oppression of the Irish language in Northern Ireland by the UK government. Additionally, the group has been observed waving a flag supporting Hezbollah during their performances.

A similar incident occurred at the O2 Forum in North London back in November 2024. Despite the considerable time elapsed since this event, Mo Chara—a member of Kneecap—was indicted on May 21 for allegedly committing a terrorist offense. Both Hezbollah and Hamas are banned organizations within the UK, and Chara’s apparent endorsement of these groups resulted in his charges.

The London Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the Kneecap concert following the release of an online video from the event. Chara is scheduled to appear before a magistrate on June 18.

The band

has responded on social media

, arguing against the charges and saying they are “political policing” and “We are not the story. Genocide is.”

No matter which side of the political fence you stand on, the truth is that politics is beginning to have much more an interaction with music. The only thing left might be censorship.

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This article was originally published on as

How Kneecap’s dispute highlights the persistent conflict between music and politics

.