British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan sparked controversy at Glastonbury Festival on 28 June when front-man Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chants of “death, death to the IDF” and “free, free Palestine”. The set was streamed live by the BBC from the festival’s West Holts Stage.
Festival organisers said the rhetoric “very much crossed a line” and the BBC later apologised, stating that the “antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable” and that the livestream should have been cut. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and media regulator Ofcom both demanded explanations from the broadcaster.
Avon and Somerset Police reviewed footage of the performance and on 30 June opened a criminal investigation, classifying the incident as a potential public-order and hate-crime offence. The inquiry also covers a separate set by Irish hip-hop group Kneecap.
Within hours of the police announcement, the U.S. State Department revoked the duo’s visas, jeopardising a 19-city North American tour scheduled for October. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said “foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.” United Talent Agency dropped the act, and Manchester’s Radar Festival, along with other European events, removed the duo from forthcoming line-ups.
Responding on social media, Bob Vylan maintained they are “not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race,” saying their remarks targeted Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The pair added that they expected further repercussions but called on supporters to continue speaking out about the conflict.