British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Glastonbury organizers stated on Sunday they have been appalled by on-stage chanting in opposition to the Israeli army throughout a efficiency on the pageant by Punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
During their present on Saturday, the duo chanted “Death, death, to the IDF” in reference to the Israel Defense Forces, the formal title of the Israeli army.
Police stated they have been contemplating whether or not to launch an investigation, however didn’t title Bob Vylan or Irish rap band Kneecap, who appeared on the identical stage and in addition criticized Israel.
“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offenses may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation,” Avon and Somerset Police, in western England the place the pageant is held, stated on X late on Saturday.
“There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech,” Starmer stated in an announcement. “I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.”
The pageant organizers criticized the chanting by Bob Vylan, which contains the guitarist-singer with the stage title Bobby Vylan and a drummer often 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 stated on Sunday.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain condemned the “inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed” on stage.
Bob Vylan’s band members didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Starmer additionally criticized Britain’s BBC, which transmits a lot of the pageant reside, for displaying the efficiency. “The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast,” he stated.
The BBC stated among the feedback made throughout Bob Vylan’s set have been 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 stated. “We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
KNEECAP NEXT ON STAGE
Bob Vylan’s present on the pageant’s West Holts stage befell simply earlier than controversial Irish rap trio Kneecap performed to an enormous crowd, main chants in opposition to Starmer and in addition taking intention at Israel.
During the present, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh accused Israel of committing warfare crimes, saying: “There’s no hiding it.”
Known by the stage title Mo Chara, he was charged with a terrorism offense final month for allegedly displaying a flag in help of Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah at a live performance. He has denied the cost.
Starmer had stated it was “”not acceptable” for Kneecap to play on the pageant.
A senior member of his authorities, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, earlier on Sunday criticized the chants by Bob Vylan however added that he was additionally appalled by violence dedicated by Israeli settlers within 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 informed Sky News.
Political commentator Ash Sarkar stated it was typical of punk musicians to spark controversy.
“Don’t book punk bands if you don’t want them to do punk stuff,” stated Sarkar, a contributing editor to Novara Media, a leftist media group.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.