Kneecap led an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant during their explosive Coachella 2025 set, with fans reporting the online stream had cut out shortly after.
The Irish group performed at the Californian festival – which will see sets from the likes of Post Malone, Travis Scott, Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion and more over the weekend – last night (April 11), taking to the Sonora stage to kick-start the chant.
Taking aim at former British Prime Minister Thatcher, who they’ve previously labelled a “c*nt”, they said: “Here, if anybody was wondering, Margaret Thatcher’s still dead,” which drew a massive cheer from the crowd, who then sang along to “Maggie’s in a Box” to the tune of KC and the Sunshine Band’s ‘Give It Up’.
The trio, made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, are longstanding critics of the former Conservative leader and are well known for being outspoken politically, utilising their set to make several statements in support of Palestine and the six counties.
Kneecap getting the Coachella crowd to sing Maggie’s in a box
pic.twitter.com/NW7dK63kXr
— Cian
(@Cian_McGivern) April 12, 2025
Respect Kneecap just said “Free Palestine” at Coachella
#Coachella2025 pic.twitter.com/RpalSlU1IV
— tantan (@constantane) April 12, 2025
@wideawakefestival Kneecap live at Coachella 2025 #kneecap #coachella #coachella2025
Kneecap at Coachella 2025 played:
‘It’s Been Ages’
‘Amach Anocht’
‘Thart agus Thart’
‘Better Way to Live’
‘Sick in the Head’
‘Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite’
‘I bhFiacha Linne’
‘Fine Art’
‘Get Your Brits Out’
‘H.O.O.D’
Fans watching along online took to social media after their performance, with many claiming the stream cut out and the band had been “censored” after the chant. Others attending the festival reported the band closed out the set by saying “Free Palestine”, a moment one X/Twitter user claimed was not kept in the stream.
Check out more social media reactions below.
The kneecap Coachella stream cut out briefly after they were joking about thatcher’s death and we were wondering what happened, my buddy got a text from someone there like “they were chanting about Maggie and free Palestine” lol they cut free Palestine & kept the thatcher bit
— brian (@BrianduNord) April 12, 2025
Kneecap getting censored on the coachella stream is right on brand #coachella #cearta
— Amelia Mushrooms (@paul_afraidies) April 12, 2025
THE KNEECAP STREAM GOING OUT DURING GUILTY CONSCIENCE IS A FUCKING HATE CRIME
— ❅.⊹₊ ⋆❆‧⋆
︎ (@P4ULSBOUTIQUE) April 12, 2025
BRING BACK THE KNEECAP STREAM WTF
— bunny
(@ALGTR2077) April 12, 2025
did coachella just censor kneecap for singing maggie’s in a box omg
— ainhoa
(@recklessbIoom) April 12, 2025
Kneecap getting a bunch of Americans to pop for “Margaret Thatcher is still dead” then sing “Maggie’s in a box” is crazy
— deebo samuel alito (@SwervinSureven) April 12, 2025
Kneecap gettin the crowd to sing “Maggie’s in a box” at Coachella
— Drew (@JustRollinOn86) April 12, 2025
kneecap ending their coachella set with h.o.o.d then saying free palestine and free the six countries I LOVE THEM SM
— h ⭒ (@strwbrryki) April 12, 2025
kneecap is encouraging the crowd at coachella to download their movie (free on netflix btw) illegally & also singing about maggie thatcher being dead
— dr. trinity santos apologist (@thenoasletter) April 12, 2025
The band’s long-standing support of Palestine has seen them loudly broadcast their message via social media and high-profile TV appearances. In their Cover feature for NME last year, they made their stance against what they call Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Gaza clear, and went on to help raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine.
More recently, they hit out at Israel for breaking the Gaza ceasefire in a “slaughter” against the “most vulnerable people on earth”. It followed the ‘Better Way To Live’ artists slamming the Prime Minister of Ireland, calling Micheál Martin a “lick-arse” and “scumbag” after his recent visit to the White House to meet US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, Coachella 2024 was headlined by Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat and Tyler, The Creator and also saw the return of No Doubt and more. Check out NME‘s overall recap of the 2024 festival here.
The post Coachella 2025: Kneecap’s stream reportedly cut after leading anti-Thatcher chant appeared first on NME.
