Bob Vylan Frontman Slams Politicians And Mainstream Media's Stark U-Turn On Gaza
Last month, Bob Vylan delivered one of the most talked-about sets at this year's Glastonbury festival, where they made headlines after leading the crowd in chants of 'free Palestine' and 'death to the IDF', referring to Israel's army.
At the time, the group faced condemnation from Glastonbury's organisers, the BBC – who broadcast the set live on its iPlayer service – and prime minister Keir Starmer.
Meanwhile, local police said shortly afterwards that they were opening a criminal investigation based on both Bob Vylan and Kneecap's Glastonbury sets, though this has since been confirmed to have been dropped.
In the last few weeks, after more photos and news from Gaza have become further shared on social media and in the mainstream media, many have taken a firmer stance against Israel and in solidarity with Palestine.
This includes Starmer himself, who issued a statement on Thursday taking issue with the 'suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza', which he described as 'unspeakable and indefensible'.
The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible. pic.twitter.com/ca1vl5zM3j
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 24, 2025
Posting on X on Monday morning, musician Bobby Vylan wrote: 'Watching politicians and mainstream media suddenly change their rhetoric on the genocide makes me feel like I've truly gone crazy.
'Can someone please confirm that a few weeks ago they villainised us on the front pages for being against this while they were very much pro-genocide?'
He added: 'I beg, we must never let them forget the stance they took and the damage they could have prevented, the lives they could have saved. We have to remind them every time they cross our path.'
Watching politicians and mainstream media suddenly change their rhetoric on the genocide makes me feel like I've truly gone crazy. Can someone please confirm that a few weeks ago they villainized us on the front pages for being against this while they were very much pro-genocide.
— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) July 28, 2025
I beg, we must never let them forget the stance they took and the damage they could have prevented, the lives they could have saved. We have to remind them every time they cross our path.
— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) July 28, 2025
Reacting to the media furore surrounding their Glastonbury set last month, Bob Vylan members Bobby and Bobbie Vylan insisted in a joint statement: '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 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 pair continued. 'The more they talk about Bob Vylan, the less they spend answering for their criminal inaction.'
READ MORE:
'We Are Not The Story': Bob Vylan Speak Out After Glastonbury Set Sparks Criminal Investigation
Bob Vylan Share Defiant Message At First Live Show Since Glastonbury Controversy
BBC Announces Immediate Changes After Glastonbury Controversy
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