Disturbed frontman David Draiman has called Tom Morello “shameful” for showing his support for Kneecap.
Earlier this week, the guitarist declared that the Irish rap trio are “clearly the Rage Against The Machine of now”, praising them for speaking truth to power in their outspoken support for the people of Palestine.
“What they’re doing in their art is what people could probably stand to do more in their lives: to really speak truth to power. And, you know, Kneecap are not terrorists,” he said.
“What is terroristic is, you know, 20,000 dead Palestinian children. That’s the story. Not some Irish rappers who don’t like that that’s happening. [That] should not be the story.”
Now, Draiman has responded to Morello’s comments, replying in a social media post: “Shameful. Truly.”
Shameful. Truly.
Wish I could say I was shocked.
Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my “friend’s” virtue signaling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred. https://t.co/tbRNB3jDu4
— David Draiman 🟦🎗️🇺🇸🇮🇱✡️☮️ (@davidmdraiman) July 12, 2025
“Wish I could say I was shocked,” he continued. ”Guess my family doesn’t count, when it comes to my “friend’s” virtue signaling for those who support terror, and incite Jew hatred.”
Draiman is Jewish and has been a vocal supporter of Israel during the ongoing conflict with Gaza.
Earlier this month, he performed alongside members of Anthrax, Megadeth and Guns N’ Roses at the ‘Back To The Beginning’ Black Sabbath farewell show in Birmingham – which was booked by Morello – and he was booed by the crowd.
He later addressed the reaction, writing: “As you can see… I wasn’t ‘booed off stage’ as so many people in the press and CERTAINLY #FreePalestine crowd, would have you believe. Yes, there were a few boos when I walked out, but I came to pay homage to my teachers, my idols, the mighty Black Sabbath, and I wasn’t about to let a few Jew hating morons deter that.”
He concluded: “And I am STILL UNAPOLOGETICALLY A FIERCELY PRO ISRAEL JEW. I will ALWAYS stand up for my people, and I won’t be deterred, intimidated, or shamed out of rocking the asses of the masses. Put that in your pipes and smoke it.”
In the past, he has sung the Israeli national anthem at one of Disturbed’s Tel Aviv concerts, he has called Roger Waters a “monster” and an “anti-Semitic to his rotten core”, and he professed in 2022 that he “doesn’t give a shit” if he alienated people with his pro-Israel stance.
Kneecap have made headlines all year by declaring on stage at festivals including Coachella and Glastonbury that Israel is committing a “genocide” in Gaza.
They have also come under investigation by police, including for Mo Chara allegedly shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and displaying a Hezbollah flag on stage. He has since appeared in court and been granted unconditional bail.
The band have consistently denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, and say they do not incite or condone violence, describing the legal action against them as “a carnival of distraction”. They have also recently defended their actions on stage, arguing that it is not their job to “tell people what’s a joke and what’s not”.
The UN has found Israel’s military actions to be consistent with genocide, and at least 56,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel has continually denied that what’s going on in Palestine is considered a genocide, and has argued that it has not partaken in any war crimes.
