See my comments in today’s Mail on Sunday condemning the BBC for failing to cut the live broadcast of Bob Vylan’s vile, antisemitic chants at Glastonbury. This wasn’t free speech — it was incitement. The police must investigate this thoroughly. https://t.co/1YSeLsMLd2
— Sharren Haskel השכל שרן (@SharrenHaskel) June 29, 2025
The punk-rap duo Bob Vylan is facing widespread condemnation after shouting anti-Israel rhetoric during their performance at the Glastonbury Festival on June 28, 2025. During their set, the London-based duo, comprising singer Bobby Vylan and his bandmate, shouted, “Death to the IDF” and “Free Palestine,” which has led to significant backlash from both political and festival officials. The IDF refers to the Israel Defense Forces, the national military of Israel.
Videos from the performance show several Palestinian flags waving in the crowd as Bobby Vylan repeatedly chanted inflammatory slogans.
Vylan (even if his incitement was not as bad as Connolly’s) should be arrested if there is any policing parity. https://t.co/zPZrsdIVAT
— john milbank (@johnmilbank3) June 30, 2025
The controversial statements have prompted British police in Somerset and Avon to review the footage to determine whether any criminal offenses were committed. Festival organizers condemned the behavior of Bob Vylan in a statement released on social media, emphasizing that Glastonbury Festival was created to celebrate music, the arts, and human unity.
“As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism.
In the United Kingdom, it is a crime to pray, silently, within one hundred meters of an abortion clinic.
Because laws regulating speech are never, ever, ever intended to regulate left wing speech, even at its most extreme:
By me:https://t.co/fOLuk5nXgC
— John McGuirk (@john_mcguirk) June 30, 2025
Bob Vylan controversy at Glastonbury
We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday,” the statement read.
“There is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.”
In response to the incident, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the duo for their remarks. The BBC, which broadcasted the festival live, has decided to remove Bob Vylan’s performance from its iPlayer and issued a warning about “very strong and discriminatory language” during the live stream. Bob Vylan, known for their high-energy performances and politically charged lyrics, mixed elements of rap and punk to create their unique sound.
Their controversial actions at Glastonbury have sparked a broader discussion about the role of artists in political activism and the boundaries of free speech. Glastonbury Festival, Britain’s largest summer music festival, draws nearly 200,000 music fans each year to Worthy Farm in southwest England. With around 4,000 performances on 120 stages, the festival features a diverse array of artists and speakers.
Despite the controversy surrounding Bob Vylan’s performance, festival organizers reiterated their commitment to freedom of expression while firmly rejecting hate speech and violence.
