Context explainer
A concise, sourced summary of the “ban” claim about the Irish rap trio Kneecap and the band’s public response. Links below are to mainstream music press reporting that cited Vince Gasparro’s announcement and Kneecap’s rebuttal.
In mid-September 2025, Liberal MP Vince Gasparro posted a video on X saying the Government of Canada had barred the group Kneecap from entering the country (he framed the decision as a stance against “political violence” and antisemitism). Coverage of the post quickly followed. Pitchfork summarized the announcement and reaction; Rolling Stone likewise reported the band’s response. [oai_citation:1‡Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/news/kneecap-banned-from-canada?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Kneecap publicly rejected the accusations and said they do not endorse Hezbollah or Hamas; they described the Canadian decision and Gasparro’s statements as defamatory and said they would pursue legal action, while planning an alternative livestream for fans. See Pitchfork’s report and Rolling Stone. [oai_citation:2‡Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/news/kneecap-banned-from-canada?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Canada doesn’t publish a simple “banned artists” list. Practically, what Vince described functions as an entry inadmissibility decision (i.e., the act of barring the group from entering). That’s the language outlets used in reporting his video. The band disputes the grounds and has threatened legal action; neither side has published the underlying immigration paperwork.