BBC executives have expressed regret for failing to cut the livestream of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance on Saturday, during which the punk-rap duo led the crowd in chanting “death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).”
In a statement issued on Monday, the BBC described the remarks as “deeply offensive” and emphasised that while it supports freedom of expression, it “stands firmly against incitement to violence.” The broadcaster admitted, “The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.”
During the performance, BBC staff issued an on-screen warning and later chose not to make the set available on demand. The corporation added it would review its guidance around live event broadcasts to ensure teams are clear on when to cut coverage.
Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis echoed the condemnation, stating the chants “very much crossed a line,” adding there is “no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
Bob Vylan’s lead singer, Bobby Vylan, defended his remarks on Instagram, writing, “I said what I said,” and advocating for teaching children to speak up for change. Following the controversy, the band has been dropped by its agency, UTA, according to reports from Variety and Deadline.
