Police have launched a probe into the feedback made by a punk band throughout their set at Glastonbury at the moment because the Labour authorities has ‘strongly condemned’ the scenes aired stay on the BBC.
Bob Vylan, a punk duo consisting of singer and guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, led crowds in chants of ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Demise to the IDF’ on Saturday afternoon, prompting fury from supporters of Israel on social media.
The English group was streamed stay by the BBC whereas performing straight earlier than Irish language rap trio Kneecap, who the company refused to point out stay after controversial incidents together with certainly one of its members being charged with a terror offence.
Bob Vylan’s efficiency can now not be rewatched on BBC iPlayer as protection of the West Holts stage at Glastonbury solely goes again to round 5pm.
In response, Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy has demanded an ‘pressing clarification’ from Tim Davie, the BBC’s Director Common.
A authorities spokesperson mentioned: ‘We strongly condemn the threatening feedback made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.
‘The Tradition Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director Common to hunt an pressing clarification about what due diligence it carried out forward of the Bob Vylan efficiency, and welcomes the choice to not re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.’
A BBC spokesperson mentioned: ‘Among the feedback made throughout Bob Vylan’s set had been deeply offensive. Throughout this stay stream on iPlayer, which mirrored what was taking place on stage, a warning was issued on display screen in regards to the very sturdy and discriminatory language. We’ve got no plans to make the efficiency out there on demand.’
The Glastonbury crowd was led in chants of ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Demise to the IDF’ by act Bob Vylan on Saturday, prompting fury from supporters of Israel on social media
The English punk duo had been performing straight earlier than Irish language rap trio Kneecap
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that officers will assess video proof of the efficiency ‘to find out whether or not any offences could have been dedicated that will require a felony investigation’
In a put up on X, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that officers will assess video proof of the efficiency ‘to find out whether or not any offences could have been dedicated that will require a felony investigation’.
Bob Vylan’s efficiency has left many within the Jewish neighborhood distraught, with Mel, a mom of-two from north London, completely revealing to MailOnline that she has been left ‘completely horrified’.
Mel, 49, was first proven Bob Vylan’s efficiency by her 16-year-old son, who had come throughout clips of the chanting at Glastonbury on TikTok.
‘How do you clarify to your teenager that there is an occasion with hundreds of individuals, his age or round his age, his era, who’re leaping up and down screaming for the genocide of Jewish folks?’ she informed MailOnline.
‘How do you clarify to him that that is taking place on this nation proper now in 2025 and that this is not some type of Hitler documentary?’
The mother-of-two was one step forward of the Labour authorities in calling for the BBC to difficulty an ‘pressing clarification’.
‘I say to the BBC, discover your sense of duty,’ Mel mentioned. ‘You are presupposed to be a nationwide broadcaster. There must be a coming to their senses. There must be a really public apology for what occurred.
‘I believe the individuals who run Glastonbury. Michael and Emily Eavis must make a really public assertion of apology that they permit this to occur on their watch.’
Bob Vylan performs at Glastonbury on Saturday afternoon
The English group was streamed stay by the BBC, in contrast to controversial Irish band Kneecap
Bob Vylan crowd surfs throughout the pageant held in Somerset
In a remark to MailOnline, Glastonbury Pageant mentioned: ‘Glastonbury Pageant doesn’t condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any type from its performers.’
Mel additionally had a message for the bands Bob Vylan and Kneecap: ‘Disgrace on you! How dare you?
‘They need to be banned by the best way,’ she added. ‘Not solely ought to there be an apology from the BBC and Glastonbury, these bands shouldn’t be given oxygen.’
Talking completely to MailOnline, Mel, who revealed she has an extended record of family and friends in Israel, a few of whom are ‘preventing on the frontline’, mentioned she not feels secure dwelling within the UK.
‘I do not know what has occurred to this nation, and I really feel so unhappy and apprehensive for my children. I’ve lived right here for nearly 50 years and you realize I am a really proud Brit. My household have been right here for like 4 generations,’ she mentioned.
‘However now, this does not seem like a rustic the place we’ve a future. I do not assume this can be a nation the place I need to stay – however I do not need to give them the satisfaction of leaving.’
It comes as Kneecap has confronted calls in latest months to be stripped from the pageant line-up, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling their efficiency ‘not acceptable’.
Mo Chara, together with bandmates Naoise Ó Caireallain (Móglaí Bap), and JJ Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), have repeatedly argued controversy surrounding their performances is a distraction from the horrors endured by Palestinians amid Israel’s battle in Gaza.
They mentioned they’re completely satisfied to lose revenue and clout with a view to be ‘on the correct facet of historical past’, and mentioned they hoped that ‘being vocal and being unafraid’ would encourage different bands to talk up on Palestine.
The chants whipped up anger from some viewers at house
Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27, appeared in courtroom final week after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in help of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah whereas saying ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’ at a gig in November final yr.
The BBC beforehand confirmed it will not livestream Kneecap’s efficiency however would seemingly add an edited model on iPlayer later – but when it hoped to keep away from controversy over the battle in Gaza bosses will likely be upset.
Within the act simply earlier than Kneecap, singer/guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, who based their band in 2017 in Ipswich, flashed up a big message in help of Palestinians whereas their set was being broadcast stay by the BBC.
The message learn: ‘Free Palestine. United Nations have referred to as it a genocide. The BBC calls it a “battle”.’
They then led the large crowd in chants of ‘Free Free Palestine’ and ‘Demise Demise to the IDF’.
Afterwards singer Bob Vylan informed followers: ‘From the river to the ocean Palestine have to be, will likely be, free.’
Though met by raucous cheers and applause from the viewers, the mantra additionally sparked fury from some on-line.
One particular person mentioned: ‘A disgrace he would not really feel so strongly in regards to the terrorists who killed music festivalgoers on Oct seventh.’
A second added: ‘Is not it presupposed to be a music content material?’ whereas a third described the band as ‘extremely cringe’ and accused them of ‘leaping on the bandwagon’.
The duo had been seen crowdsurfing throughout their energetic efficiency on the West Holts stage
One of many Bob Vylans waves a Palestine flag throughout their Glastonbury set
The West Holts stage space was rammed with followers for Bob Vylan’s set, with Kneecap anticipated instantly afterwards
One other message which flashed up behind the punk duo learn ‘Bob Vylan is killing punk rock’
The present battle in Gaza was triggered by an assault by terrorist organisation Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023 wherein some 1,200 folks had been killed and took greater than 251 folks hostage.
In response Israel launched a full-scale invasion of the Gaza strip which has lasted virtually two years and has led to the deaths of at the least 56,412 folks, many kids and civilians.
The United Nations has mentioned Israel’s actions, which embrace severely restricted important help akin to meals, water and medical provides into the Gaza Strip and raiding or bombing hospitals as ‘in keeping with the traits of Genocide’.
A world arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has additionally been issued by the Worldwide Prison Court docket.
Israel denies it’s committing genocide and claims there isn’t any meals scarcity for the 2 million Gazans who stay within the strip, one thing that’s broadly disputed by help organisations and worldwide our bodies, which have warned hundreds of infants are prone to dying of famine.
Acting on stage earlier, singer Bob Vylan was open about his and his bandmate’s help for Palestinians.
He mentioned: ‘Lately a listing was launched of individuals making an attempt to cease our mates Kneecap from performing right here at the moment. And who do I see on that f***ing record, however that bald-headed c*** I used to f***ing work for.’
Vylan had been talking a few colleague at a document firm he used to work at. His phrases had been met with loud boos from the gang.
Bobby Vylan and Bobbie vylan pose on stage as their set drew to an finish
Within the act simply earlier than Kneecap, singer/guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, who based their band in 2017 in Ipswich, flashed up a big message in help of Palestinians whereas their set was being broadcast stay by the BBC
Acting on stage earlier, singer Bob Vylan was open about his and his bandmate’s help for Palestinians
Many individuals within the crowd gathered for Bob Vylan’s efficiency waved Palestinian flags in a present of help with folks in Gaza
He continued: ‘So look, we’ve executed all of it, from working in bars to working or f***ing Zionists.
‘So if we will do that, you are able to do completely something that you just put your thoughts to I am telling you this.
‘Do not quit in your goals, and if you have to go to that s***ty job to pay your payments and pay your hire you do what you have to do to outlive on this world.’
Later throughout a break between songs, the singer mentioned: ‘We’re seeing some f***ed up issues on the earth. We’re seeing the UK and the US be complicit in battle crimes and genocide taking place over there to the Palestinian folks.
‘And I do know we’re on the BBC, we’re not going to say something loopy. Go away that for them lads, you realize what I imply.
‘However sadly we’ve seen an odd response to those that come out and voice help for Palestine. Though anyone with any ethical compass can certainly see that what is occurring over there in Gaza is a tragedy.
‘We aren’t pacifist punks right here over at Bob Vylan Enterprises. We’re the violent punks, as a result of generally, you need to get your message throughout with violence as a result of that’s the solely language some folks converse.’
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