British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led thousands of festivalgoers in chants of “Death to the IDF” and “Free Palestine” during their West Holts Stage set at Glastonbury on 28 June. The performance, captured live on the BBC’s iPlayer stream, drew immediate criticism for targeting Israel’s military.
Glastonbury’s organisers said on 29 June they were “appalled” and that the chants “very much crossed a line.” The BBC called the remarks “utterly unacceptable,” conceding it should have cut the feed. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also questioned why the broadcast was allowed to continue.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed on 30 June that a senior detective had been appointed to lead a criminal investigation into Bob Vylan’s set, as well as that of Irish rap trio Kneecap. The force said the case has been logged as a public-order incident and that hate-crime legislation will be considered after reviewing video evidence.
Hours after the police announcement, the U.S. State Department revoked visas for the duo ahead of a 19-city North American tour scheduled for October. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said foreigners who glorify violence were “not welcome visitors.”
Commercial fallout widened the same day: United Talent Agency dropped Bob Vylan from its roster, while Manchester’s Radar Festival and France’s Kave Fest removed the act from upcoming line-ups. The duo maintain they were calling for the dismantling of a “violent military machine” rather than inciting hatred, but they now face both legal scrutiny and significant touring and sponsorship losses.
BREAKING: Newly uncovered footage from the 2023 Rebellion Festival shows Bob Vylan shouting to the crowd: “How do you lot feel about the police? The only good pig is a dead pig.”
Why are artists who openly incite violence still being given a platform?
