British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan drew international backlash after front-man Bobby Vylan led the crowd at Glastonbury’s West Holts Stage on 28 June in chants of “death, death to the IDF” and “Free Palestine.” Festival organisers said the performance “crossed a line” and that they were “appalled” by the language used on stage.
The BBC, which streamed the set live, apologised on 30 June, calling the remarks “deeply offensive” and “antisemitic” and conceding it should have cut the feed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the chant as “appalling hate speech,” while media regulator Ofcom asked the broadcaster to explain how the footage was allowed to air.
Avon and Somerset Police opened a criminal investigation the same day, saying a senior detective would examine video evidence to decide whether hate-crime or public-order offences had been committed. Irish rap trio Kneecap, who also criticised Israel during their Glastonbury appearance, are included in the probe.
Consequences quickly spread beyond the U.K. The U.S. State Department revoked Bob Vylan’s visas on 30 June, forcing cancellation of a planned 19-city North American tour. United Talent Agency dropped the group, and organisers of Manchester’s Radar Festival and France’s Kave Fest removed the duo from upcoming line-ups amid mounting pressure.
Under growing scrutiny, the BBC said on 3 July that Bob Vylan had been classified as a “high-risk” act before the festival and announced it will no longer live-stream performances in that category. The corporation also moved staff off its live-events team and pledged clearer guidance to prevent similar incidents at future broadcasts.
Hero In Error pull out of Radar Festival, claim the festival “have been made scapegoats for the bigger issue”
They are the latest act to cancel their appearance at the Manchester festival after Bob Vylan were dropped from the line-up
