Massive Attack, Kneecap and more fight back on 'organised censorship' from music industry

The British band Massive Attack have formed an alliance for artists who are facing intimidation from within the music industry over their support of Palestine and Gaza. The collective known as Ethical Syndicate Palestine (ESP) is supported by Kneecap, Fontaines D.C. and Brian Eno and cites “organised censorship” of artists who have spoken out about Israel’s military action.

The statement shared by Massive Attack and others on Instagram reads: “The scenes in Gaza have moved beyond description. We write as artists who’ve chosen to use our public platforms to speak out against the genocide occurring there and the role of the UK government in facilitating it.”

In their statement, ESP alleges accounts of organised intimidation: “We’re aware of the scale of aggressive, vexatious campaigns operated by [UK Lawyers for Israel] UKLFI and of multiple individual incidences of intimidation within the music industry itself, designed solely to censor and silence artists from speaking their hearts and minds.”

In a statement to The Mirror, Caroline Turner, Director of UKLFI, wrote: "The claims that we have bullied Massive Attack and operated aggressive vexations campaigns are false." She further describes Massive Attack's June 2025 performance at Lido Festival as "divisive and offensive political theatre."

ESP singled out UKLFI in their statement, accusing the association of intimidating artists. In their ESP Instagram posts, Brian Eno, Kneecap and Massive Attack all tagged the activist group Led By Donkeys, which released a film on July 17, 2025 calling for an investigation into UKLFI’s charitable wing.

Turner says UKLFI responded to Led by Donkeys before they screened their film and contends that their allegations mainly concerned UKLFI Ltd, which is not a charity, rather than UKLFI Charitable Trust.

In recent months, UKLFI reported the band Bob Vylan to the police for leading a chant of “death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]” during their Glastonbury set. It also reported the BBC for broadcasting the set and wrote to the Academy of Music Group advising them to cancel Vylan’s Radar Festival performance.

Mr Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (aka Mo Chara), a member of the music trio Kneecap, was charged with a terrorism offence in May 2025 after being reported to the police by UKLFI. Mr Ó hAnnaidh will appear at court for the next hearing on August 20, 2025. UKLFI wrote to all the UK venues where Kneecap was due to perform over the summer, to warn them of the risks of allowing them to perform.

The musicians of ESP say their goal is to protect other artists, particularly those at early stages of their careers. “Having withstood these campaigns of attempted censorship, we won’t standby & allow other artists – particularly those at earlier stages of their careers or in other positions of professional vulnerability – to be threatened into silence or career cancellation.

“In this spirit, we encourage artists who’ve been placed in this position, or those who now wish to use their platforms to talk about Palestine, but are concerted about industrial or legal repercussions to contact us,” their statement reads.

The syndicate also urges artists to make a stand on demands including immediate unfettered access to Gaza for recognised aid agencies, an end to UK arms sales and licences to Israel, and an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

Artists including Paloma Faith, Bob Vylan, Aja Monet, Saul Williams, and AURORA all commented expressions of support on Instagram. Paloma Faith wrote: “I’ve been shadow banned for some time!!! Keep going everyone, it's going to eventually change! Hang in there”. The Scottish rock band Garbage have also publicly joined the syndicate.

The Mirror has reached out to the Ethical Syndicate Palestine for comment.

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