Glastonbury ‘Appalled’ by Bob Vylan’s Chant Against Israel’s Military – The New York Times
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UK’s Starmer and Glastonbury slam ‘death to’ Israeli military chant
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Glastonbury organisers appalled by on-stage chanting against the Israeli military. Punk-rap duo Bob Vylan chanted “Death, death, to the IDF” in reference to the Israel Defense Forces. Police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation, but did not name Bob V Dylan or Irish rap band Kneecap, who appeared on the same stage and also criticised Israel. The Israeli Embassy in Britain condemned the “inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed” on stage. The BBC said some of the comments made during Bob Vylas’s set were deeply offensive and that it had no plans to make the performance available on demand. The Irish rap trio KneECap played to a huge crowd and also took aim at Starmer, accusing Israel of committing war crimes, saying: “There’s no hiding it” The band’s frontman, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Item 1 of 6 Revellers gather as Kneecap performs at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Summary Punk duo Bob Vylan led chant against Israel’s IDF
Festival organisers say comments crossed the line
UK police consider whether to open investigation
GLASTONBURY, England, June 29 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Glastonbury organisers said on Sunday they were appalled by on-stage chanting against the Israeli military during a performance at the festival by Punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
During their show on Saturday, the duo chanted “Death, death, to the IDF” in reference to the Israel Defense Forces, the formal name of the Israeli military.
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Police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation, but did not name Bob Vylan or Irish rap band Kneecap, who appeared on the same stage and also criticised Israel.
“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation,” Avon and Somerset Police, in western England where the festival is held, said on X late on Saturday.
“There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech,” Starmer said in a statement. “I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.”
The festival organisers criticised the chanting by Bob Vylan, which comprises the guitarist-singer with the stage name Bobby Vylan and a drummer known as Bobbie Vylan.
“Their chants very much crossed a line and 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 on Sunday.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain condemned the “inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed” on stage.
Bob Vylan’s band members did not respond to a request for comment.
Starmer also criticised Britain’s BBC, which transmits much of the festival live, for showing the performance. “The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast,” he said.
The BBC said some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.
“During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language,” a spokesperson said.
“We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
KNEECAP NEXT ON STAGE
Bob Vylan’s show on the festival’s West Holts stage took place just before controversial Irish rap trio Kneecap played to a huge crowd, leading chants against Starmer and also taking aim at Israel.
During the show, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh accused Israel of committing war crimes, saying: “There’s no hiding it.”
Known by the stage name Mo Chara, he was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert. He has denied the charge.
Starmer had said it was “”not appropriate” for Kneecap to play at the festival.
A senior member of his government, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, earlier on Sunday criticised the chants by Bob Vylan but added that he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
“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,” Streeting told Sky News.
Political commentator Ash Sarkar said it was typical of punk musicians to spark controversy.
“Don’t book punk bands if you don’t want them to do punk stuff,” said Sarkar, a contributing editor to Novara Media, a leftist media organisation.
Reporting by Paul Sandle and Sophie Royle; Writing by Paul Sandle and William Schomberg; Editing by Helen Popper and Giles Elgood
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Starmer says ‘death to IDF’ chants at Glastonbury were ‘appalling hate speech’
Rapper Bobby Vylan led crowds on the festival’s West Holts Stage in chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF” A member of Irish rap trio Kneecap suggested fans “start a riot’ at his bandmate”s forthcoming court appearance. Prime Minister said: “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech” Police said video evidence would be assessed by officers “to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation” The Israeli Embassy said it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes ‘grotesque’ The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its “outrageous decision” to broadcast Bob Vylan. The BBC said it had no plans to make the performance available on demand.
Responding to the chants from Bob Vylan, the Prime Minister said: “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech.
Sir Keir Starmer condemned the chants (Paul Currie/PA)
“I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.
“The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.”
Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence would be assessed by officers “to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation”.
A joint Instagram post from Glastonbury and Emily Eavis said Bob Vylan’s chants “very much crossed a line” and added: “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.”
Wes Streeting told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “I thought it’s appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens.”
On social media, the Israeli Embassy said it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes “grotesque”, writing on X: “Glorifying violence against Jews isn’t edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked.”
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said: “Bob Vylan’s chants at Glastonbury yesterday were appalling. Cultural events are always a place for debate, but hate speech, antisemitism and incitements to violence have no place at Glastonbury or anywhere in our society.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its “outrageous decision” to broadcast Bob Vylan.
A spokesperson said: “Our national broadcaster must apologise for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol, and those responsible must be removed from their positions.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.
“During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes ‘grotesque’ (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan’s performance, a Government spokesperson said.
Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums with their music addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class.
Bobby Vylan’s real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports.
Robinson-Foster is listed on Companies House as being the director of Ghost Theatre Records, which is operated by Bob Vylan.
Kneecap, who hail from Belfast, have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.
The group performed after Vylan’s set on the West Holts Stage with O hAnnaidh exclaiming “Glastonbury, I’m a free man” as they took to the stage.
Crowds watch Kneecap performing on the West Holts Stage during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset (Ben Birchall/PA)
In reference to his bandmate’s forthcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would “start a riot outside the courts”, before clarifying: “No riots just love and support, and support for Palestine”.
In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and Sir Keir said their performance would not be “appropriate”.
During the performance, Caireallain said: “The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.”
He also said a “big thank you to the Eavis family” and said “they stood strong” amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up.
Glastonbury ‘Appalled’ by Bob Vylan’s Chant Against Israel’s Military
Kneecap, an Irish-language rap group, performed at the Glastonbury music festival. The group’s lead singer led the crowd in chants of “Death, death to the I.D.F.”
Glastonbury, Britain’s biggest music festival, had already been facing criticism for its decision to allow Kneecap, an Irish-language rap group, to perform on Saturday, despite pressure from broadcasters and politicians to cut the act after the band voiced anti-Israel statements and one member faced a terrorism charge.
Kneecap’s performance was such a draw at the festival that the arena was already full for Bob Vylan’s set an hour beforehand.
The chants by Bob Vylan’s singer, which were broadcast live on the BBC, drew immediate condemnation from politicians in the United Kingdom.
Starmer demands BBC explanation over Glastonbury ‘hate speech’ broadcast
Prime Minister said the BBC had questions to answer over its live broadcast of the duo’s performance on Saturday. His intervention comes amid mounting fury at the BBC for not ending the live broadcast.
The Prime Minister said the BBC had questions to answer over its live broadcast of the duo’s performance on Saturday.
His intervention comes amid mounting fury at the BBC for not ending the live broadcast when the rappers led thousands of revellers in chanting, “death, death to the IDF!”
Sir Keir told The Telegraph: “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech.
“I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.
“The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.”
Comment: Emily Eavis was wrong to bow to pressure over Bob Vylan chants
Bob Vylan led crowds in chants of ‘death, death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury. Singer asked crowd if they’d heard Free Palestine before shouting ‘Death to IDF’ Emily Eavis said the chants ‘crossed a line’ and was ‘appalled’ by them. She said there was ‘no place’ at the festival for hate speech or incitement to violence.
This year’s Glastonbury was always going to ruffle a few feathers. A cultural event with hundreds of thousands of people, being broadcast to the entire country, while the world is teetering on world war three? Couple that with the fact that “controversial” Belfast rap group Kneecap were on the billing and outrage was almost guaranteed. But it wasn’t Kneecap who pushed people over the edge in the end. Ironically, it was the last performer they’d decided to film before cutting the stream: Bob Vylan.
After leading chants of Free Palestine (which have been standard at sets across Glastonbury weekend) singer Bobbie Vylan asked the crowd: “But have you heard this one?” before shouting “Death to the IDF” and encouraging fans to respond. Some did, some didn’t. People were conflicted. But that didn’t matter. The clip went viral immediately, with a handful of utter mentalists online comparing it to the Nuremberg rallies, where Nazis would spread their ideology and military propaganda. Once again, ironic, considering who are the ones accused of committing genocide at the moment. But, logic aside, the response was enough to get Emily Eavis involved, who issued a statement saying that the chants “crossed a line”. “There is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,” she said.