Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap has launched legal action against Toronto MP Vince Gasparro (Eglinton—Lawrence) after he publicly claimed on social media that the group had been banned from entering Canada — a statement now widely rejected by federal officials and described by the band as defamatory and damaging.
Gasparro, who serves as the parliamentary secretary for combatting crime, posted a video saying he was acting “on behalf of the Government of Canada” when he announced that Kneecap had been barred entry, leading to the cancellation of the group’s sold-out concerts in Toronto and Vancouver. But the Prime Minister’s Office and the Canada Border Services Agency quickly clarified they had not been consulted, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) later confirmed that only one member’s electronic travel authorization had been cancelled, while the other two applications were still “under review.”
The contradiction prompted Kneecap to retain human rights law firm Phoenix Law, which has now filed legal proceedings against Gasparro. Attorney Darragh Mackin said the MP’s comments constituted “serious and unfounded assertions” that inflicted “substantial reputational harm” on the band.
“The statements made by Mr. Gasparro were wholly inaccurate and defamatory without any reason or justification,” Mackin said. “Kneecap, just like every private citizen, are entitled to fairness and the protection of their good name.”
In a statement posted to their social media accounts, Kneecap said they intend to win the case and donate any awarded damages to support children in Gaza. “Vince. When we beat you in court, which we will, we will donate every cent of your money to assist the thousands of child amputees in Gaza,” the group wrote.
The controversy comes amid intense backlash directed at the band over its outspoken pro-Palestine stance. Kneecap drew international attention earlier this year after displaying messages such as “F*ck Israel,” “Free Palestine,” and “Israel is committing genocide” during their Coachella performance. In May, a band member was charged with a terror-related offence in the U.K. after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag — a charge the group calls “political policing.”
Calls for clarity on the band’s immigration status have grown louder. On Friday, NDP MP Jenny Kwan issued an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney calling for “immediate intervention,” saying IRCC had failed to respond to her earlier inquiries. “This lack of follow-up is unacceptable,” she wrote, noting the case has major implications for public trust in Canada’s immigration system.
Neither Gasparro nor IRCC responded to questions before publication.