One woman’s spontaneous act at Glastonbury has turned her into an overnight legend for music fans across the globe.
Helen Wilson, affectionately dubbed “Helen from Wales,” has been praised after livestreaming a powerful performance by Belfast rap group Kneecap—a set that wasn’t shown by the BBC.
Why Was Kneecap’s Glastonbury Set Not Streamed?
Kneecap’s performance on the West Holts Stage wasn’t included in the BBC’s official Glastonbury coverage due to controversy surrounding one of its members. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, was charged in November 2024 by the Metropolitan Police for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and chanting politically charged slogans during a London concert.
The group has denied the allegations, calling it “political policing” and pointing to broader humanitarian issues, particularly the crisis in Gaza.
Following this, the BBC made the decision not to air their Glastonbury set. While a heavily edited version was later uploaded to iPlayer, many fans had already missed the moment.
Enter: Helen from Wales
That’s where Helen came in. While working a bar at the festival, she managed to take an hour off and decided to attend Kneecap’s performance. What started as a casual livestream for her TikTok followers quickly turned into a major act of solidarity.
Holding up her phone and a Palestinian flag, Helen streamed the entire set live—gaining over 1.8 million likes and countless comments from grateful fans who couldn’t be there in person.
“I just got a couple of pints, grabbed my big Palestine flag, and thought, ‘I’m going to go live,’” she told her followers. She even burned her hand holding her overheated phone in the air for over an hour. “People kept asking to keep filming… so I just didn’t stop.”
She added, laughing: “All I did was hold a phone up—but it was a bit of a mission. I had to ditch my ciders and keep the power bank plugged in!”
Reactions Pour In
Viewers flooded social media with praise, calling Helen a “free speech legend” and thanking her for broadcasting a performance many believed the public had a right to see.
One commenter joked, “Helen Wilson will never have to buy a drink on the Falls Road again,” while others said she was “doing God’s work.”
Even Kneecap themselves gave her a shout-out: “Helen you’re a legend! Tickets to any show—just giz a shout! Grma.”
Mixed Reactions and Emotional Response
Despite the praise, Helen has also faced online trolling and unwanted attention. In a recent TikTok video, she became emotional, saying she never intended to make it about herself.
“I just did what I thought was right,” she said, wiping away a tear. “I’ve always stood up for my beliefs, but I’m not used to this kind of spotlight. I just wanted people to see what they weren’t allowed to.”
In an interview with The Irish Sun, she reflected: “Being part of that set felt really significant. It was amazing to be there and share the strength of feeling with others.”
The Bigger Picture
Whether you see her as a free speech champion, a fan doing what fans do best, or simply someone who stepped up at the right time, Helen’s livestream has stirred debate about censorship, protest, and the power of ordinary people to challenge what gets broadcast—and what doesn’t.
