French town drops music festival funding over Kneecap booking
Briefly

The annual festival in Saint-Cloud, scheduled for August 21-24, has seen a significant change in funding. The local authorities have cut a €40,000 subsidy due to the Irish rap trio Kneecap being included in the line-up. They emphasized the importance of programming freedom but stated that they do not support political actions or calls to violence. Kneecap has encountered backlash for their comments on Israel's Gaza situation, leading to multiple gig cancellations and a criminal investigation related to a performance at Glastonbury. Additionally, member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh faces a terrorism charge regarding a Hezbollah flag.
The city hall of Saint-Cloud has dropped their €40,000 subsidy for the annual festival, citing the line-up change influenced by the Irish rap trio's controversial performances.
Authorities confirmed their decision to cut funding followed the final line-up's announcement, respecting the program’s freedom while opposing political actions and calls to violence.
Kneecap has faced backlash for their comments regarding Israel and the situation in Gaza, with several of their gigs canceled amid significant controversy.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh faced a terrorism charge for displaying a Hezbollah flag, which he denies, indicating ongoing legal challenges for the group.
Read at Irish Independent
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