The organizers of Glastonbury Festival expressed their shock and disappointment over comments made by Bob Vylan during the punk duo’s set, which they deemed to incite violence and contradict the festival’s core values of “hope, unity, peace, and love.”
Performing on the West Holts stage, the London-based group led a chant that included the words “death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. Frontman Bobby Vylan characterized himself as a “violent punk,” asserting, “Sometimes we must use violence to convey our message because that’s the only language some people understand.”
Their performance aired live on BBC but has since been removed from the network’s streaming services, with a spokesperson citing some of Bob Vylan’s remarks as “deeply offensive.” Prior to the Irish rap trio Kneecap’s set, the BBC had already decided against broadcasting it live, fearing it would violate their editorial guidelines on impartiality.
Authorities from Avon and Somerset police are currently investigating both performances to determine whether any laws were breached.
Emily Eavis, one of the festival’s organizers, released a statement condemning Bob Vylan’s words. She emphasized that the festival stands firmly against all forms of war and terrorism, advocating for hope and unity. “With nearly 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, we will inevitably host artists whose opinions we do not share. However, we are appalled by Bob Vylan’s statements, which crossed a line. We want to remind everyone involved that there is no room for antisemitism or incitement to violence at Glastonbury.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in, stating that there is no justification for such hateful rhetoric and criticized the BBC for allowing these comments to be aired.
Earlier, Wes Streeting denounced the chanting as “appalling” and pointed out that both the BBC and Glastonbury have questions to address, while also condemning the violence associated with Israeli actions.
Meanwhile, during the festival, various artists expressed support for the Palestinian cause, with several performers displaying Palestinian flags or wearing keffiyeh scarves on stage. Nadine Shah highlighted the plight of those in Gaza during her performance, reading an open letter from Artists for Palestine UK that criticized plans to label the activist group Palestine Action as a terror organization.
The Israeli embassy responded to the Bob Vylan performance, expressing serious concern about the inflammatory rhetoric. A statement highlighted the importance of free expression while condemning incitement to violence and hate speech.
In light of the festival’s recent events, the discussion surrounding freedom of expression and its boundaries continues to evolve, raising questions about the responsibilities of artists on prominent platforms.
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