London, June 29 — British rapper Bob Vylan ignited a political and social controversy during his performance at Glastonbury Festival on Friday, after leading the crowd in chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF.” The incident, broadcast live on BBC iPlayer, drew swift backlash from UK government officials, the Israeli embassy, and the festival organizers, while local police confirmed an active hate speech investigation.
Organizers Condemn Remarks, Police Investigate
Festival co-organizer Emily Eavis publicly distanced Glastonbury from the rapper’s remarks, stating that hate speech has no place at the event.
“These comments very much crossed a line,” Eavis said. “There is absolutely no place at Glastonbury for hate speech. We are reviewing our internal protocols.”
The incident is now under review by Avon and Somerset Police, who confirmed they are assessing footage of the performance.
“We are aware of footage circulating online and are assessing whether any offences have been committed,” a police spokesperson said.
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BBC Issues Warning, Pulls Performance from Platform
The BBC, which streamed the performance live, drew heavy criticism for amplifying the slogans without warning. The broadcaster later updated the segment with a disclaimer for “strong and discriminatory language” and confirmed it would not make the set available on-demand.
A formal complaint is being filed by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which accused the BBC of platforming extremist rhetoric.
Israel Calls Out ‘Incitement and Hatred’
In a strongly worded statement, the Embassy of Israel in the UK condemned the slogans, calling them “an endorsement of ethnic cleansing” and “deeply disturbing.”
“Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of violence, it must be condemned—especially on public platforms,” the embassy stated.
The embassy also cited slogans such as “From the river to the sea” as implicitly calling for the end of the State of Israel, raising concerns over growing normalization of extremist narratives in the UK.
UK Officials Demand Accountability
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy demanded an explanation from BBC Director-General Tim Davie, labeling the broadcast “deeply irresponsible.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed the sentiment, calling the performance “a disgrace.”
Legal experts say that chants like “Death to the IDF” could potentially breach UK laws on incitement to violence, especially when performed before large audiences and distributed via national broadcasters.
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Bob Vylan Remains Silent Amid Backlash
As of publication, Bob Vylan had not issued any official statement addressing the backlash. His social media accounts remained inactive since the performance. Music critics and civil rights groups remain divided, with some defending the chants as political expression, while others denounce them as irresponsible hate speech.
FAQs (Schema Optimized)
Q1. What did Bob Vylan say at Glastonbury?
During his set, Bob Vylan led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF,” sparking widespread condemnation and a police investigation.
Q2. Are Glastonbury organizers supporting Bob Vylan?
No. Glastonbury organizers have condemned the remarks, stating they crossed a line and affirming their opposition to hate speech.
Q3. What is the BBC’s role in this controversy?
The BBC aired the performance live, drawing criticism for allowing the broadcast. It later issued a warning and removed the footage from its on-demand service.
Q4. What is Israel’s response to the chant?
The Israeli Embassy in the UK condemned the slogans as hate speech and incitement, warning that such rhetoric contributes to antisemitism and violence.
Q5. Is there a police investigation into this incident?
Yes. Avon and Somerset Police are reviewing the footage to assess whether the chants constitute hate speech or incitement under UK law.
