Instagram under fire for hosting Bob Vylan ‘death to the IDF' video
A video of the group's Saturday afternoon performance, shared by the band's frontman on Instagram, has been viewed more than 5m times.
The page for the duo's singer Pascal Robinson-Foster – known as Bobby Vylan – has seen its followers increase almost fourfold in the last week amid continuous controversy.
The surge in online attention has also led to a spike in the band's Spotify listeners and viewers on YouTube.
The BBC has not made footage of the punk/rap duo's Glastonbury set available on demand and has apologised for not cutting away from the live broadcast.
During the performance, the group led the audience in chants of 'Death, death to the IDF!' and chanted 'Free! Free!' with the crowd responding 'Palestine!'.
The footage has been viewed millions of times on Instagram, despite the social network banning incitements to violence.
The app's ban extends to calling for the death of an army's soldiers, although Instagram's parent company Meta has made exceptions such as allowing Ukrainians to wish violence against Russian invaders.
A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: 'Bob Vylan's calls for death and destruction should have no place on streaming or social media platforms. We have long called for tougher regulations on social media sites and that social networks proactively search for and remove hate speech from their platforms.
'It is outrageous that footage that the BBC removed for its extremism is now being proudly shared on Instagram, driving up streams and followers. Platforms must not allow musicians or activists inciting violence to profit or gain influence by spreading this poison.'
Footage of the performance was posted by the celebrities4palestine page and shared by Bobby Vylan.
Meta has toughened its stance against antisemitic posts, including removing posts targeting 'Zionists', although its Oversight Board last year ruled that messages featuring the phrase 'from the river to the sea' do not glorify Hamas and should remain online.
Bobby Vylan's Instagram followers have risen from 71,000 to 260,000, according to figures from analytics company Chartmetric.
The band's Spotify followers have climbed by 16pc in the last week and YouTube subscribers have risen by 29pc, although many artists see a rise after Glastonbury.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
New Dartford bear sculpture trail inspired by children's book
A public art trail inspired by a children's book is set to be launched in borough of Dartford will receive 30 big bear and 30 bear cub sculptures, designed by local artists, schools and community groups, as a nod to We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and illustrator Helen from July to September 2026, the eight-week trail aims to raise awareness of the work of ellenor, a palliative care provider in Langhorne, managing director and co-founder of trail producer Wild in Art, said: "I have no doubt that the bear sculptures will capture the imaginations of residents and visitors alike." James Waugh, centre director at Bluewater Shopping Centre, said: "This initiative is a fantastic way to encourage residents and visitors alike to explore Dartford and discover the selection of uniquely-decorated bears and cubs."ellenor is urging businesses to sponsor the sculptures and for artists to register their interest ahead of an open call for Hubbard, interim chief executive at ellenor, said: "Together we've mobilised creative talent, government funding and local goodwill to create a trail that will engage tens of thousands of visitors and raise vital awareness and funds for hospice care."
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Woman discovers letter hidden for decades in Hove home
A woman in Hove who found a 32-year-old letter while cleaning her kitchen has been reunited with her flat's previous Oliver discovered the letter, dated 1993, stuck in a drawer where she keeps her pots and said: "It was pretty well hidden. We were like 'oh my god, what is this?'."After posting about the letter on social media, Andy Neal - whose then wife Kirstie was the author, contacted Ms Oliver, and they plan to meet. The letter said how the couple had moved into the flat when it was a "real tip" and were refurbishing it "bit by bit"."We hope you enjoy living here as much as we do, and all your downs are small and all your ups are big," it read."P.S. This place cost us £27,000."Ms Oliver said: "It's just crazy how much less things were before."A former colleague of Mr Neal's mum spotted Ms Oliver's Facebook post, and he reached out to her. Aimee said: "It was less than 24 hours. I messaged straight away. I was excited but I wasn't sure the reaction we were going to get. "He was instantly really open. Telling me all these bits and bobs about his life."It's really cool to see how it's been changed and updated."Ms Oliver and her partner are tattoo artists - and are now working on a design for Mr Neal in tribute to his father who recently died.
BBC News
22 minutes ago
- BBC News
Knob throwing contest set for Cattistock show comeback
A knob throwing competition is set to continue for a second year at its new quirky event where competitors hurl Dorset Knobs - crispy, bread roll-shaped biscuits - as far as possible down a grassy pitch, was held at Cattistock Countryside Show last year for the first time, following a five-year are allowed to launch three biscuits at part of the event, thrown under-arm with the furthest measured by an tournament is being held at the show again this year on 10 August and will feature an array of other knob-themed games, including a knob and spoon race, guess the weight of the big knob and pin the knob on the Cerne Abbas Giant. The record throw is held by James Vincent-Smith who won the Dorset Knob Throwing competition in 2019, with a 31.9m (105ft) knob contest started in a pub garden in the early becoming too big it then moved to Cattistock's village play area, it then expanded further to a football pitch, before becoming The Dorset Knob Throwing and Frome Valley Food Festival for several swelling in size again it moved to Kingston Maurward College until 2019 but was paused until a comeback last year at the annual Cattistock Countryside Show where it hopes to from the event go to support the village of Cattistock and surrounding rural areas. Knob facts: The biscuits have been made by Moores of Morecombelake since 1860Originally, they were made from leftover bread dough with added butter and sugar, hand-rolled and left to dry in the dying heat of an ovenIt is thought their name comes from the hand-sewn Dorset knob buttons that were also made locallyThey were eaten for breakfast with tea and sugar poured over them - now they are usually eaten with strong cheese or honey and cream - known locally as thunder and lightning You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
