Indie band The Libertines’ tried to start a ‘Free Palatine’ chant during their performance at the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury but failed as the microphone wasn’t on
The Libertines saw their microphone cut off as they delivered a message in support of Palestine at the end of their set. The iconic indie band performed on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage on Sunday afternoon just before Rod Stewart.
They were met with a huge crowd as they performed their hits including Can’t Stand Me Now and Don’t Look Back into the Sun. Pete Doherty and Carl Barat waved goodbye to the vast crowd as they left the stage while drummer Gary Powell decided to stay on and helf up a Palestine flag that was on stage during their performance.
He attempted to start a ‘Free Palestine’ chant, which has been heard across the festival this weekend. However, the microphone was off as Gary’s chant wasn’t heard by fans.
A source told the Mirror : “The camera was zoomed in on his mouth so everyone could clearly see he was mouthing the phrase ‘free free Palestine’ but the mic was muted.
“Those at the front tried to get the chant going on his behalf but it fizzled out and he gave up and left the stage. Fans leaving debated if it was intentional as he picked up and waved the flag before heading to the mic.”
On Saturday, Irish rap trio Kneecap and duo Bob Vylan caused controversy with messages during their performances. They both played on the West Holts Stage however, police have since said they are monitoring footage from the stage.
Avon and Somerset Police posted on X: “We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.
“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”
Both bands started chants of ‘Free Palestine’ during their performances while Kneecap kicked off a ‘f*** Keir Starmer’ chant and Bob Vylan ‘death to the IDF’.
Festival bosses said in a statement: “Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
It comes after the chants were blasted by Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the Israeli embassy this morning, with the Labour MP warning that both the BBC and Glastonbury had “questions to answer”. He went on to brand it a “pretty shameless publicity stunt”.
“I thought it’s appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens,” he told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.
“But I also think it’s a pretty shameless publicity stunt, which I don’t really want to give too much indulgence to for that reason.” Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy said that it was “deeply disturbed” by the scenes on Saturday.
The Mirror has contacted The Libertines’ representative and Glastonbury for comment.
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Source: Mirror
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