Chief Rabbi says 'vile Jew-hatred at Glastonbury' a 'national shame'
The UK's Chief Rabbi has strongly criticised "the airing of vile Jew-hate at Glastonbury" after a live broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance at the festival went out on the BBC, during which the band's singer led the crowd in chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]".Writing on X, Sir Ephraim Mirvis wrote: "This is a time of national shame. The airing of vile Jew-hatred at Glastonbury and the BBC's belated and mishandled response, brings confidence in our national broadcaster's ability to treat antisemitism seriously to a new low."It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it. Toxic Jew-hatred is a threat to our entire society.In a statement issued on Monday, the BBC said: "The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen."
A criminal investigation has now been launched over performances by both Bob Vylan and Irish band Kneecap at Glastonbury on Saturday, Avon and Somerset Police has said.The force said it had appointed a senior detective to investigate whether comments made by either act amounted to a criminal offence after reviewing footage.A statement added: "This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage."Speaking in Parliament on Monday after the announcement, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called the scenes broadcast "appalling and unacceptable".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
17 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Bob Vylan claim they are being ‘targeted' for speaking up about Palestine
They were criticised after leading chants of 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)' during a livestreamed performance at the Somerset music festival on Saturday afternoon. The BBC apologised after the set at the West Holts Stage was livestreamed, saying on Monday describing the chants were 'antisemitic sentiments' that were 'unacceptable'. A post shared by Bob Vylan (@bobbyvylan) Bobby Vylan, one half of the British duo, also led his audience in chants that included 'Free, free Palestine'. Posting a statement on Instagram on Tuesday, captioned 'Silence is not an option', the group said: 'Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace. 'Last week it was a Palestine pressure group. The week before that it was another band. 'We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. 'We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use 'unnecessary lethal force' against innocent civilians waiting for aid. 'A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.' The statement added: 'We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. 'We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction. 'The Government doesn't want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving? 'The more time they talk about Bob Vylan the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction. 'We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first, we will not be the last, and if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too.' Bobby Vylan is the stage name of Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports, while his bandmate drummer uses the alias Bobbie Vylan. The group was formed in Ipswich in 2017, and are known for addressing political issues in their albums including racism, masculinity and class. On Monday, Avon and Somerset Police said it had launched a probe into the performance after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with a senior detective appointed to lead the investigation.
Sky News
17 minutes ago
- Sky News
Chief rabbi condemns BBC's 'mishandled response' to anti-IDF chanting at Glastonbury - as band issue new statement
The chief rabbi has described the BBC's response to anti-IDF chanting at Glastonbury as "belated and mishandled" - as the rap duo involved, Bob Vylan, said the UK government needed to talk about its "criminal inaction". Sir Ephraim Mirvis said "vile Jew-hatred" had been aired at the Somerset music festival and it was a "time of national shame". Confidence in the BBC's "ability to treat antisemitism seriously" has been brought to a "new low", he said in a post on X, adding that "outright incitement to violence and hatred" appeared to be acceptable if it was couched as "edgy political commentary". Ordinary people had not only failed to see incitement "for what it is" but had cheered it, chanted it, and celebrated it, he said. "Toxic Jew-hatred is a threat to our entire society," he added. Bob Vylan, posting a new statement on Instagram on Tuesday, said they were "not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people". Rather, they were for the "dismantling of a violent military machine" - the Israel Defence Forces. Bob Vylan chanted "death to the IDF" at Glastonbury. As many as 95% of the IDF are thought to be Jewish. In their statement, the group said they were a "distraction from the story" and that whatever "sanctions" they received would also be a distraction. Their US visas have been revoked and United Talent Agency, their US representatives, have dropped them. Referring to the war in Gaza, they claimed the UK government does not want them to "ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity", to "ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing" and to "feed the starving". They added: "The more time they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction. "We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first, we will not be the last, and if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up, too." It has emerged that Tim Davie, the BBC's director-general, was at Glastonbury when the duo led chants of "Death to the IDF" which were broadcast live. The prime minister's spokesman, asked if the PM had confidence in Mr Davie, said Sir Keir Starmer had "confidence in the BBC", adding: "The position of the director-general is a matter for the BBC's board." Speaking in the Commons, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said "accountability" was important and it was something she had "impressed upon the BBC leadership". She added: "When you have one editorial failure, it's something that must be gripped. When you have several, it becomes a problem of leadership." She said she'd called Mr Davie after Bob Vylan's set had been broadcast to find out why it had aired, and why the feed had not been cut. "I expect answers to these questions without delay," she said. Avon and Somerset Police has begun a criminal investigation and is reviewing footage of both Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury. The force said a senior detective had been appointed - and it had been contacted by people from around the world. "We... recognise the strength of public feeling," it said. During Kneecap's set, one member suggested starting a "riot" outside his bandmate's forthcoming court appearance, before clarifying that he meant "support". Bob Vylan had been due to tour the US before their visas were revoked. US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau said action had been taken "in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants". "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," he added. During Bob Vylan's set, the duo performed in front of a screen that showed several messages, including one that claimed Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to "genocide". The war in Gaza began after Hamas militants attacked Israel on 7 October 2023 and killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostage. Israel's offensive in Gaza has led to the deaths of more than 56,500 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Media watchdog Ofcom has said the BBC "clearly has questions to answer" over the live stream from Glastonbury. A BBC spokesperson said: "The director-general was informed of the incident after the performance and at that point he was clear it should not feature in any other Glastonbury coverage." The broadcaster respects freedom of expression but "stands firmly against incitement to violence", they said. They added: "The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves... "The team were dealing with a live situation, but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen."
Times
18 minutes ago
- Times
Wimbledon ‘protects' female player who feared fan had a knife
Wimbledon said its security protocols responded effectively to a woman player's fears that a 'crazy' spectator had a knife and could attack her. Yulia Putintseva raised security concerns about a man and asked for him to be ejected in an incident that highlights the fears of women players. The world No 33 complained to the umpire during a change of ends in the opening set of her match against Amanda Anisimova on Monday. Putintseva, 30, asked: 'Can you take him out? I am not going to continue playing until he leaves. These people are dangerous. They are crazy.' She then pointed to an area of spectators and described the man as wearing green. The umpire, Fabio Souza, spoke to four members of security staff before saying play would resume. Putintseva, from Kazakhstan, responded: 'When the security comes … take him out, because maybe he has a knife and he will attack.' She went on to lose the match in 45 minutes without winning a game and left the court in floods of tears. Anisimova, 23, told the BBC after the match she believed the spectator had been saying something 'when [Putintseva] was about to serve'. She added: 'I am sure that we were protected.' Michelle Dite, the tournament's operations director, said: 'If players have got any concerns, if they feel that there is something that doesn't feel quite right, they absolutely should bring it to light. We would rather know about these things, and that is what happened. 'The chair umpire had some really good communication as planned. We have security that moves with the players, that stays with the players, and that's a really important relationship. 'It's a critical relationship therefore with the security and also the chair umpire to make sure that the conversations are had about: 'Is everyone OK with this?' The chair umpire then moved back to the chair and play commenced. In terms of those conversations, protocols were followed and the matter was dealt with.' • Wimbledon 2025 day one — as it happened Dite said it was 'not' a stalking incident. 'There was an issue raised by one of the players — you've got to remember these players are in a high-performance environment. 'We want to create the best possible theatre for them to come and do their thing. One of the players had some concerns; they went and spoke to the umpire; we checked it all out with security, followed protocols.' Wimbledon declined to say if the spectator was ejected. 'Security was in the area. The issue was dealt with,' the organisation said. Security of players, particularly women, is a focus of the tournament. Emma Raducanu praised Wimbledon for doing an 'amazing job' after it was revealed that a man who had been stalking her had been banned from buying tickets for the championships. The man, who followed Raducanu to multiple events, was given a restraining order by police in the United Arab Emirates after his presence at the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier this year caused her to break down in tears on the court. • Emma Raducanu: I couldn't breathe or see ball through tears with stalker there Wimbledon said its security system had red-flagged the man's attempt to buy tickets for the All England Club and that his application had been rejected. Raducanu, 22, said: 'Wimbledon did an amazing job. I got a notification and the police contacted me and assured me that everything was OK.' Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, said at the start of the championship: 'Every year, we are reviewing the security we put in place, both for the athletes and for everybody that's here, based on the threat and risk profile. 'Obviously, what we saw with the incidents with Emma Raducanu I think brings it front of mind for people, perhaps outside the tennis community. 'Sadly, the reality for particularly female athletes in sport is it's not particularly unusual [to deal with stalkers]. And so those are the sorts of issues that we are fairly well versed in dealing with. We are always enhancing it and putting in place the appropriate measures, whether that's for the players or for our guests.'
