Glastonbury: A performance by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan at the Glastonbury Festival has triggered widespread condemnation after the group chanted “Death, death, to the IDF,” referencing the Israeli military. The incident drew sharp criticism from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, festival organisers, and the Israeli Embassy, while police said they were reviewing footage to determine whether a criminal investigation is warranted.
The controversial moment took place on Saturday during Bob Vylan’s set on the West Holts stage, shortly before Irish rap group Kneecap also performed and voiced strong criticism of Israel. While the performers themselves have not publicly responded, the backlash has been swift.
“There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech,” said Prime Minister Starmer in a statement on Sunday. He reiterated earlier concerns about Kneecap’s appearance at the festival and said the same standards should apply to all artists expressing violent or threatening sentiments.
Festival organisers said the chants by Bob Vylan “crossed a line” and reaffirmed that Glastonbury stands against antisemitism, hate speech, and incitement to violence. The duo, consisting of frontman Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, have so far remained silent on the controversy.
Avon and Somerset Police, responsible for the area where the festival is held, confirmed that they are examining video footage to determine whether any offences were committed, although they did not name either Bob Vylan or Kneecap.
The Israeli Embassy in the UK condemned the remarks made on stage as “inflammatory and hateful.” Meanwhile, Starmer also took aim at the BBC for broadcasting the set live. “The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be aired,” he said.
The BBC responded that a warning was issued to viewers about potentially offensive content during the live stream and confirmed that the performance would not be made available for replay.
Kneecap, known for their politically charged lyrics, followed Bob Vylan’s set with their own criticisms of the Labour leader and the Israeli government. Frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (also known as Mo Chara) accused Israel of war crimes. He was recently charged with a terrorism-related offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert — a charge he denies.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed criticism of Bob Vylan’s remarks but also called out violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, telling Sky News that the Israeli government should address its own issues.
Left-wing commentator Ash Sarkar defended the nature of provocative performances in punk culture. “Don’t book punk bands if you don’t want them to do punk stuff,” she said.
The incident has ignited a debate over the boundaries of free expression, political activism in music, and the responsibilities of public broadcasters and event organisers.
