Irish Hip Hop Band Takes Controversial Photo With Stolen King George V Statue Head at Concert

An Irish hip hop band, Kneecap, known for their anti-colonial and socially conscious lyrics, made headlines in Melbourne by showcasing the stolen and decapitated head of a statue of King George V on stage.

The head was taken from a large sculpture of the monarch in Melbourne’s Kings Domain parklands that was defaced by activists during the Kings Birthday holiday last year, with red paint splashed on it and anti-colonial slogans painted at the site.

Since the attack, the head had been missing until it resurfaced earlier this year when radical activists burned it on a barbecue around Australia Day.

On March 15, the head made another appearance at the band Kneecap’s performance at the 170 Russell venue in Melbourne.

Kneecap played three sold-out shows and a free performance at Federation Square, where they voiced strong support for the pro-Palestine movement and criticized colonialism.

Og O’Hannaidh spoke about the ongoing occupation in Palestine and highlighted the history of colonization in Australia during the free performance, urging the crowd to stand in solidarity for Palestine.

The band, currently touring Australia and New Zealand for the first time, used their platform to address social and political issues.

This incident was not the first time the statue piece had been desecrated, and the attack last year incurred significant costs for Melbourne ratepayers.

George V, who reigned from 1910 to 1936, has been a controversial figure in light of his colonial legacy.