Posters for Kneecap’s ‘Fenian’ had to be censored after TfL refused to allow them

Kneecap’s manager has said that posters for their new album ‘Fenian’ had to be censored as TfL would not allow them.

The record dropped on May 1 and is the second from the Irish hip-hop trio – following on from their 2024 debut ‘Fine Art’. It features collaborations from Kae Tempest, Radie Peat and Fawzi, and singles included the powerful ‘Irish Goodbye’, as well as the title track, the electric ‘Smugglers & Scholars’ and ‘Liars Tale’ which hit out at Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Now, the band’s manager Daniel Lambert has claimed that they had to censor the posters designed to promote the album, as they were rejected by Transport For London.

The original poster featured the album artwork, the title written in a bold red font, and a handful of four and five-star reviews from various outlets. Among the reviews was also a quote from the PM, which branded the trio as “completely intolerable”.

This design, Lambert revealed on X/Twitter, was not permitted by TfL – meaning that they had to submit amended versions of the same poster that censored both the word ‘Fenian’ and the PM’s name.

TfL shared a statement with Belfast Telegraph, claiming that they had only ever received the censored version, and did not ask the band’s management to make any adjustments in the first place.

“The redacted style of the poster reflects the version that was submitted to us for approval. We did not request any changes to the artwork before the current advertising campaign commenced,” a spokesperson told the outlet.

Lambert hit back at those comments and outlined that the band were rejected when they put forward the non-censored design.

“The company we book London tube ads with confirmed our original artwork was NOT accepted by TFL and ‘FENIAN’ had to be removed,” he wrote. “We then provided a redacted poster – took a week for approval and deadlines missed… Delay was then TFL making the decision to even approve redacted one.”

The manager also shared another update, writing: “The facts here are pretty clear. I said they ‘only accepted with them blanked out’. Which is true and accurate”.

With the latter, he attached two images: a photo of the redacted poster on display, and a screenshot of an email with the subject “KNEECAP Tube Ads’ with a response that read: “I can confirm TFL will not allow the word FENIAN to be displayed unfortunately. All ads have to be completely impartial and non-political of any movement.”

The company we book London tube ads with confirmed our original artwork was NOT accepted by TFL & ‘FENIAN’ had to be removed.

We then provided a redacted poster – took a week for approval & deadlines missed.

Delay was then TFL making the decision to even approve redacted one. https://t.co/Xi3vQk1KFO

— Daniel Lambert (@dlLambo) May 5, 2026

The facts here are pretty clear.

I said they “only accepted with them blanked out”.

Which is true and accurate. pic.twitter.com/Xsuh3Gdd9g

— Daniel Lambert (@dlLambo) May 5, 2026

The word “Fenian” refers to the 19th-century Irish revolutionaries who were committed to overthrowing British rule and achieving an independent Irish republic. While the term has been used as a slur and has had negative connotations attached to it, the album whole sees Kneecap reclaim the word and embrace feelings of brotherhood and community.

They also spoke to NME about the title in a recent In Conversation interview, saying: “It originally came from Irish folklore. It was a band of warriors in old Irish stories that date back 1,500 years.”

“Then it was repurposed for several rebellions during the 18th and 19th Century, then in modern times it was used as a derogatory slur for Irish nationalists,” Móglaí Bap continued. “When you call someone a ‘fenian’, you’re suggesting that they’re backwards or uncivilised. In the North or when Irish people came to London, they’d say ‘You Fenian c**t.’”

They added that they were reclaiming ‘Fenian’ as a synonym for “the warrior”, and trying to show once again that the most feared weapon in their arsenal is “the power of language”.

NME reached out to a spokesperson for TfL for a response on why the term “fenian” was refused. In response, a spokesperson said: “The redacted style of the poster reflects the version that was submitted to us for approval. We did not request any changes to the artwork before the current advertising campaign commenced.”

“There is no blanket ban of the term ‘Fenian’ being used in advertising campaigns on our estate,” they added. “If it featured in an advertising campaign submitted to us, as with any copy, we would review it on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration its specific context and any guidance from the Committee of Advertising Practice.”

Kneecap’s ‘Fenian’ was given a four-and-a-half-star review from NME, which read: “Put all the rage-bait headlines aside and what you’re left with is a solid, progressive and fearless album from a group that could just as easily be dicking around instead of making music that matters. In that sense at least, their day has come.”

The trio are also in the running to top the UK Album Charts this week, but facing tough competition from Melanie C and Michael Jackson.