The situation surrounding Bob Vylan’s recent Glastonbury performance has quickly escalated into a PR crisis, drawing pointed criticism from senior government officials and festival organizers alike. The prime minister issued a forceful statement, denouncing the band’s remarks about Israeli troops as “appalling hate speech.” Glastonbury’s leadership echoed this sentiment, expressing strong disapproval after frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chants including “free, free Palestine” and, more provocatively, “death, death to the IDF.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer publicly questioned the BBC’s editorial judgment for broadcasting the set live, prompting the corporation to clarify that it had displayed a warning regarding “very strong and discriminatory language.” Notably, the BBC has since confirmed the performance will not be available on iPlayer.
Starmer further reiterated his stance on not providing a platform for acts that incite violence, referencing both Bob Vylan and Irish-language rap group Kneecap, whom he criticized in advance of the festival over their comments regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The government has responded proactively: Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has sought a detailed explanation from BBC leadership on their vetting protocols, and officials have welcomed the decision to withhold the performance from rebroadcast. Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has gone as far as to suggest potential legal action, calling for prosecution of both the artist and the BBC for allegedly inciting violence.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting added further context, labeling the comments “revolting” and referencing the tragic events at last year’s music festival in Israel to underscore the gravity of the situation.
Glastonbury’s organizers, in a joint statement, reaffirmed their commitment against all forms of hate speech and clarified that, with thousands of performers each year, isolated incidents may occur despite their vetting processes. They made it clear that Bobby Vylan’s statements “crossed a line” and that all production staff have been reminded of the festival’s policies.
For context, Bob Vylan is a London-based punk duo, with both members using stage names. In response to the controversy, antisemitism campaigners have announced plans to formally challenge the BBC’s decision to air the performance live, describing it as “outrageous.”
In summary, the incident has triggered widespread condemnation from political figures, festival organizers, and advocacy groups, with each party moving swiftly to distance themselves from the comments and reinforce their organizational standards.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism issued a statement on X, sharply criticizing Glastonbury for what they described as a descent into extremism and hatred. Interestingly, they directed even greater concern at the BBC, calling its actions “even more dangerous.”
The group has announced plans to file a formal complaint with the BBC regarding its broadcast of performances, including that of Kneecap.
Notably, the BBC chose not to air Kneecap’s set live, citing editorial concerns about maintaining impartiality. Despite this, the broadcaster later released the performance on iPlayer, though only after making several edits.
According to the BBC, these edits ensured the content adhered to their guidelines on artistic expression, and any strong language was clearly signposted with appropriate warnings.
Kneecap has been the subject of recent headlines after group member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, also known as Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism-related offense—allegedly for displaying a Hezbollah flag during a show last year, a charge he denies.
In the aftermath of both performances, Avon and Somerset Police stated they would review recordings of the acts on the West Holts Stage. The police confirmed that officers would assess the material to determine if any criminal investigation is warranted.
Kneecap delivered an intense performance on Saturday, drawing a crowd of thousands and openly criticizing Sir Keir with some rather explicit chants.
Ó hAnnaidh remains out on bail, with his next court appearance scheduled for August 20th.
Separately, on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police addressed concerns regarding videos from April that appeared to show Kneecap making inflammatory remarks about British MPs. After reviewing the situation, the police stated that, although they considered multiple potential offences, the statutory time limit for prosecution had already expired by the time the footage reached their attention. As a result, no further legal action will be taken at this time.