RTÉ has released a statement to confirm that Belfast rap trio Kneecap were asked not to wear pro-Palestinian badges during their appearance on Friday night’s Late Late Show, but they broke their agreement with producers of the show and wore them regardless.
RTÉ’s Journalism and Content Guidelines prohibit the wearing of badges, emblems, etc during broadcasts that are not specifically centred on a debate on a particular topic.
A spokesperson for RTÉ said that prior to the show, Kneecap’s management told producers that the band would be wearing badges in support of Palestine.
“The Late Late Show producers asked for the badges to be removed in accordance with the RTÉ Journalism and Content Guidelines and explained the guidelines to Kneecap’s management,” the statement reads. “The producers were clear that, while it would have been a disappointment, Kneecap’s performance could not proceed if they wore the badges.
“After discussions with Kneecap’s management, they agreed that the badges would not be worn.”
The statement continued, “However, during the live performance and the subsequent interview, the band chose not to comply with that agreement. They put badges on and revealed that one band member was wearing a Palestinian football jersey.”
“Given the nature of live television, there always remains a risk of unplanned programming. However, our team of editorial professionals acted in full compliance with the RTÉ Journalism and Content Guidelines and adapted the filming and took appropriate action whereby the host provided context and balance to the discussion.”
Patrick Kielty said to the group after the Palestinan football jersey was revealed: “I’m obliged to say this – that our thoughts are with everybody in that conflict.
“Some horrific stuff is happening there. I’m also obliged to say that in politics, there’s another side and some people might not agree with what you’ve done.”
The spokesperson also said, “In the interest of achieving impartiality and context for discussion of varying views, The Late Late Show continuously strives to comply with and uphold the integrity of the RTÉ Journalism and Content Guidelines. Last night’s production was no different to previous shows in such respect.”
The spokesperson confirmed that the guidelines applied to Kneecap were the same as those applied to Irish Women in Harmony’s recent appearance on the show, where a similar issue took place regarding the wearing of political emblems.
During their interview on Friday night’s Late Late Show, band member Móglaí Bap said, “We’re here to use our platform to highlight the genocide that’s happening in Palestine at the moment.
“30,000 Palestinians have been murdered by American weapons and mostly – two thirds of them were women and children.
“I think we just have to use this platform as an opportunity to appeal to Irish people to attend rallies and protests and to support the BDS movement, and to show solidarity to Palestine and hopefully one day Palestine will be free,” he finished.
Hamas’s 7 October attack on southern Israel.left some 1,160 people dead, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Some 250 hostages were also taken, with 130 still held in Gaza, although about 30 are believed to be dead, Israeli officials said.
Israel’s military response has killed 29,692 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
