The BBC has been told to “must explain” why it didn’t stop chanting “death to the IDF” at Saturday’s Glastonbury show from Pro-Palestine act Bob Vylan.
The BBC could be prosecuted over rapper Bob Vylan’s “appalling” comments after he called for the death of Israeli soldiers at Glastonbury. The corporation has been told it must explain why it failed to cut away from the rap duo’s live set after the band led chants of “death to the IDF” on Saturday.
After criticizing the “appalling hate speech” in which the Pro-Palestine band also sung chants “from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, free” on the festival’s West Holts Stage, Prime Minister Keir Starmer also demanded answers from the BBC.
Before the BBC eventually removed Vylan’s set, it was uploaded to iPlayer and remained there for more than five hours. The organization did, however, issue a warning about “very strong and discriminatory language.”
Danny Cohen, a former director of the BBC, predicted that the failure to cut away from the rapper would “shiver in the Jewish community of the UK”
According to a BBC spokesman, “some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were incredibly offensive. A warning was posted on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language used during this livestream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage. No intention is being made to provide the performance on demand.
Why might the BBC face legal challenges?
After Bob Vylan’s performance was live-streamed on the BBC’s iPlayer site, Keir Starmer claimed that the BBC had “serious questions to answer.” Following the rapper’s chanting “death, death to the IDF”-referring to the Israeli Defence Force that was performed by punk duo Boby Vylan during their performance, the organization could face an investigation into whether it has broken public order laws.
Broadcasting information that calls for the death of a person or group is prohibited under the Public Order Act of 1986. It can serve a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
The BBC may have “broadcast unlawful material,” according to Lord Carlile, despite the free speech and anti-Israel sentiments that are made.
The top attorney added, “I would be interested to know whether the BBC sought legal counsel, and if so, what that legal counsel was.” They may have broadcast unlawful content under section 22 of the Public Order Act, which I find very troubling.
After the comments were broadcast, and what transpired during Kneecap’s set, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp demanded that the organization be subject to a police investigation. He claimed that the BBC “violates the law” by broadcasting Bob Vylan’s vile hatred. I urge the police to conduct an immediate investigation and prosecution.
The police are conducting an investigation.
Detectives from Avon and Somerset Police, who are tasked with policing Glastonbury, are currently reviewing the performance’s footage. The police force stated that “we are aware of the remarks made this afternoon by acts at Glastonbury Festival’s West Holts Stage.”
Officers will examine video evidence to determine whether any crimes might have presupposed a criminal investigation have been committed.
A spokesperson for the government said they “strongly condemn” Bob Vylan’s threatening remarks at Glastonbury. The Culture Secretary thanked the decision to re-broadcast the performance to BBC iPlayer and stated that she had spoken to the BBC Director General to request an urgent explanation of what due diligence was done.
What is the statement of Glastonbury?
Emily Eavis, the rapper’s hostess at Glastonbury, wrote in a statement that the comments “crossed a line.” There is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence, she wrote, “Their chants very much crossed a line, and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival.”
While “as a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism – we will always believe in – and actively campaign for – hope, unity, peace, and love,” she continued, adding that a performer’s comments “should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.”
With almost 4, 000 performances at Glastonbury in 2025, “there will undoubtedly be artists and speakers on our stages who’s not sharing our views,” added Eavis.
What was Bob Vylan’s response?
In addition to addressing issues of racism, masculinity, and class, Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, has released four albums. Despite reports, Bobby Vylan’s real name is 34-year-old Pascal Robinson-Foster.
Posting on Instagram, Vylan told his fans that he had been “inundated” with a mixture of “support and hatred” following the performance but that he stood by what he said and is calling for “a change in foreign policy” despite the the Israeli Embassy saying it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival”.
The musician wrote in a lengthy statement that read, “I said what I said,” that my daughter is typing loudly into a school survey to ask her about the state of her school dinners right now as I lay in bed this morning, my phone buzzing nonstop, inundated with messages of both support and hatred.
“She expressed that she would like healthier meals, more options and dishes inspired by other parts of the world. Listening to her voice her opinions on a matter that she cares about and affects her daily, reminds me that we may not be doomed after all.”
The only way to improve the world is to teach our children to speak up for the changes they need and want. It is crucial that we encourage and inspire future generations to carry the torch that was given to us as we get older and our fire may start to dwindle as a result of the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities.
Source: Mirror
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