Bob Vylan's 'Death to IDF' chant at Glastonbury festival: Organizers appalled, Israel asks UK to denounce hateful rhetoric
Rapper Bobby Vylan of rap punk duo Bob Vylan led crowds to chant 'death, death to the IDF' at Glastonbury Festival.
Rapper Bobby Vylan of UK punk-rap duo Bob Vylan triggered a major controversy following his Glastonbury Festival performance Friday as he led the crowd to chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF.
' The incident has prompted backlash from government officials, the Israeli embassy, and festival organizers, while Avon and Somerset Police have launched an official investigation into possible hate speech or incitement.
The chant was broadcast live on BBC iPlayer, prompting widespread criticism from the broadcaster. The BBC later issued a warning for 'strong and discriminatory language' and confirmed the performance would not be made available for streaming on demand.
Organizers 'appalled', says Bobby Vylan crossed a line
Emily Eavis, Glastonbury's co-organizer, distanced the festival from the remarks, and said the organizers do not condone the chants. 'These comments very much crossed a line. There is absolutely no place at Glastonbury for hate speech.' Festival organizers reiterated their stance against antisemitism and violence, adding that they were reviewing internal processes following the incident.
— IsraelinUK (@IsraelinUK)
Israel embassy in UK says this is not freedom of speech
The Embassy of Israel in the UK issued a statement noting that it is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric.
"Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleansing, it must be called out—especially when amplified by public figures on prominent platforms," it said.
"Chants such as 'Death to the IDF,' and 'From the river to the sea' are slogans that advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel and implicitly call for the elimination of Jewish self-determination.
When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence," the statement added.
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy demanded an explanation from BBC Director-General Tim Davie, calling the broadcast 'deeply irresponsible.' Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the chants as 'a disgrace.'
The Campaign Against Antisemitism announced it would file a formal complaint with the BBC, accusing the network of amplifying an extremist narrative.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they are reviewing footage from the performance and assessing whether criminal charges may be appropriate under laws governing incitement and hate speech. 'We are aware of footage circulating online and are assessing whether any offences have been committed,' a spokesperson said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Dakshayani Velayudhan, Mammootty find place in Kochi's Maharaja's College syllabus
KOCHI: The life and work of Dakshayani Velayudhan, the first Malayali woman from a scheduled caste community to earn a bachelor's degree and a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, will now feature in the syllabus of the four-year BA honours history course at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. The decision was made by the college's board of studies. Dakshayani is an alumnus of the college. Besides Dakshayani, another alumnus of Maharaja's College, actor Mammootty, has also been included in the syllabus. 'Mammootty has been included in the major elective 'History of Malayalam Cinema', which second-year history students will start studying this year,' said Zakharia Thangal, history department head. Citing biographies, he said Dakshayani graduated after overcoming various setbacks in an era when casteism was at its height. In the section 'Thinkers and Social Reformers', Malayalam linguist and missionary Arnos Pathiri, reformers belonging to the Jewish community of Kochi — Abraham Salem and S S Koder, social reformer Hamadani Thangal who took the lead in establishing a college for Muslims in Aluva, Tapaswini Amma who worked tirelessly for the education and betterment of women, Kerala's first Muslim woman lawyer Fathima Rahman, Maharaja's' first principal from a backward community P S Velayudhan, among other prominent Kochi residents who did not make it to mainstream history, have also been included.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
Why the iconic Glastonbury music festival is under the scanner of UK police
Glastonbury Festival, the UK's iconic music event, is facing police scrutiny after a few controversial performances. Chants of 'Death to the IDF' and support for Palestine by acts like Bob Vylan and Kneecap prompted backlash from UK officials, the Israeli embassy and festival organisers. Police are reviewing footage to determine possible legal violations read more Revellers gather as Kneecap performs at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, UK, June 28, 2025. File Image/Reuters Police in southwest England have initiated a review following controversial on-stage remarks made by performers at this year's Glastonbury Festival, UK's largest music festival. Acts including rap-punk duo Bob Vylan and Irish-language hip hop trio Kneecap led large crowds in politically charged chants on the festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday. Authorities are now assessing whether any criminal offences may have been committed. During their performance, Bob Vylan's frontman Bobby Vylan addressed the audience with calls of 'Free, free Palestine,' followed by the statement: 'Alright, but have you heard this one though? Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A video circulating online showed the artist making the chant from the stage microphone, with members of the audience echoing it. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they were 'aware of the comments made by acts' and said they would be 'assessing video evidence to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.' The force reiterated that this review was underway after the performances drew international and domestic concern. The stage backdrop during Bob Vylan's performance also carried a controversial message. Displayed behind the duo was the text: 'United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a 'conflict',' referring to Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza and the UK broadcaster's framing of the events. How did the Israeli Embassy & UK govt react? The Israeli Embassy in the UK was quick to condemn the content of the performances, particularly the rhetoric used by Bob Vylan. In a statement posted to social media, it said it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival.' The embassy added that chants such as 'Death to the IDF' posed serious risks by 'normalising extremist language and the glorification of violence.' It warned that such messages — particularly when met with applause by large audiences — could encourage dangerous ideologies. 'When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence,' the statement read. The Israeli Embassy also urged festival organisers, artists and UK leaders to reject all forms of hatred and incitement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting also voiced his disapproval. Appearing on Sky News, he referred to the chant as 'appalling' and criticised both Glastonbury's organisers and the BBC, which broadcast the performance live. 'They've got questions to answer,' Streeting said, highlighting the need for accountability over how such content was allowed on air. Streeting also addressed the broader political context, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers. He stated, 'I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank.' He also remarked that he wished Israel would 'take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously.' Referencing the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival on October 7 2023, Streeting said: 'The fact that we saw that chant at a music festival – when there were Israelis at a similar music festival who were kidnapped, murdered, raped and in some cases still held captive…' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He stressed that while Israel's conduct during the war has drawn international criticism, this did not justify inciting violence. Why is the BBC facing heat? The BBC, which has rights to air Glastonbury performances live, found itself at the centre of the controversy for having streamed Bob Vylan's set. The broadcaster said it had issued an on-screen warning for 'very strong and discriminatory language' during the performance. However, it later confirmed that the controversial set would not be made available on its iPlayer platform. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy reportedly reached out to BBC Director General Tim Davie to seek an urgent explanation regarding the editorial and vetting processes that preceded the broadcast. A BBC spokesperson noted that some of the comments made during the performance were 'deeply offensive.' Who are Bob Vylan? Bob Vylan, formed in Ipswich in 2017, comprises frontman Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan. Both artists have kept their real names private for personal reasons. The group's musical style blends punk, rap, and hard rock and their lyrics frequently tackle subjects such as racism, homophobia, far-right politics and toxic masculinity. Their 2020 album We Live Here and 2022's Bob Vylan Presents The Price Of Life both garnered critical acclaim. In 2022, the group won Best Alternative Act at the MOBO Awards and received the Best Album honour at the Kerrang Awards. One of their tracks, Pretty Songs, is introduced by the line: 'Violence is the only language that some people understand.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The group performed this year on Glastonbury's third-largest stage and had previously earned a reputation for using their platform to provoke political discussion. What did Kneecap do? The controversy at Glastonbury extended beyond Bob Vylan to another performance that same day by the Irish-language hip hop trio Kneecap. The group has previously faced backlash for its political messaging, particularly over West Asia. Ahead of the festival, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had remarked that it was 'not appropriate' for the group to perform. The band's member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh — known by his stage name Mo Chara — was charged last month under the UK Terrorism Act. The charge stemmed from an incident at a London concert in November 2024, where he allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag, a symbol associated with a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. The rapper, charged under the anglicised name Liam O'Hanna, has denied the allegations and is out on unconditional bail, with his next court appearance set for August. Despite this backdrop, Kneecap drew a large crowd at the West Holts Stage. During their set, the group led the audience in chants of 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Mo Chara.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Band member Móglaí Bap addressed the crowd with an explicit rebuke of the UK prime minister, saying, 'The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f**k Keir Starmer.' Speaking about his legal troubles, Mo Chara told the crowd that the situation had been 'stressful' but was 'nothing in comparison to what the Palestinian people are going through.' During the performance, Móglaí Bap said, 'I don't want anybody to start a riot. No riots just love and support, and more importantly support for Palestine,' though he also made a comment suggesting a potential riot outside the court. Kneecap has previously faced criticism over videos that allegedly show the band shouting slogans such as 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' and encouraging people to target lawmakers. The group has denied supporting either group and instead says its criticism is directed at governments, not civilians. How have organisers responded to the incidents? In response to the unfolding controversy, Glastonbury Festival's organisers issued a public statement condemning the on-stage comments. '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 said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Regarding Bob Vylan's set, the organisers noted that the chants 'very much crossed a line.' They also stressed that with almost 4,000 performances taking place, it was inevitable that some views expressed by artists would not align with the festival's ethos. 'A performer's presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs,' the organisers added. Glastonbury Festival is held annually at Worthy Farm in southwest England and attracts nearly 200,000 attendees each year. With over 120 stages and thousands of artists, it is widely seen as one of the most influential cultural events in the world. With inputs from agencies
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Harry Styles spotted kissing mystery woman while partying at the Glastonbury festival, internet asks ‘who is she'
Actor-singer Harry Styles turned up the heat at the Glastonbury festival. The former One Direction heartthrob was spotted passionately kissing a mystery woman in the VIP section of the fest, and the internet is low-key obsessed with finding out who she is. Also read: Harry Styles spotted in Rome for new pope announcement? Photo viral According to The Sun, Harry arrived separately and was spotted at around 1.45am on Saturday with his friends.(Instagram) At Glastonbury, Harry shared a steamy smooch with a mystery woman, adding a dash of romance to the festival vibes. The ex-One Direction singer, 31, was seen sharing a smooch with a glamorous female in a VIP area of the festival on Saturday as they danced with friends. According to The Sun, Harry arrived separately and was spotted at around 1.45 am with his friends, including music producer Kid Harpoon. The woman made her entrance shortly afterwards and was spotted kissing Harry on the cheek before the pair went to dance and later had a 12-second kiss while they were dancing. 'Harry only had eyes for this woman and sparks were flying as soon as they were together. Harry turned up with a few of his mates but as soon as she got there, they were almost inseparable,' said one onlooker. The insider added, 'She kissed him on the cheek three times before he took her hand and led her to the dance floor. Just short of an hour after they arrived, they kissed in front of loads of other people and didn't seem to care who was watching. They both looked like they were having a brilliant time and appeared to have known each other for a while, as they were very familiar'. As the video of the kiss emerged on social media, it got his fans excited, who wondered who the woman was. 'Who is she,' one asked, with another mentioning, 'Living his best life. He should be able to, without anyone judging him.' More about Harry's personal life She is the first woman Harry has been linked to since his split from Canadian actor Taylor Russell last May. In the past, Harry dated singer Taylor Swift, model Kendall Jenner and actress Olivia Wilde. In 2023, Harry was photographed kissing model-actor Emily Ratajkowski in Tokyo, which led to scrutiny onto their love lives.
