London, England — A performance at the Glastonbury Festival has sparked widespread controversy, prompting British police to investigate the actions of rap punk duo Bob Vylan. The group’s lead singer, Bobby Vylan, incited a crowd with chants criticizing Israel and its military, which have been labeled as “appalling hate speech” by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
During their set at the festival’s West Holts Stage, Vylan shouted, “Free, free Palestine,” before intensifying the rhetoric by leading chants of “Death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. The performance, which was streamed live, featured visuals condemning media portrayals of the ongoing conflict, stating that the United Nations called it a genocide while the BBC referred to it as merely a “conflict.”
Starmer condemned the remarks, asserting that hate speech has no place in public discourse. The Israeli Embassy in the UK echoed this sentiment, expressing deep concern over the inflammatory nature of Vylan’s rhetoric, stating that such remarks could normalize violent extremism among festivalgoers. The embassy urged festival organizers and artists to denounce all forms of hate.
Glastonbury organizers responded by expressing their disapproval of Vylan’s statements, emphasizing that antisemitism and incitement to violence are unacceptable at the festival. “Their chants very much crossed a line,” a spokesperson stated, indicating that the incident would prompt internal reminders about maintaining a safe environment at the event.
The BBC also distanced itself from Vylan’s comments, describing them as “deeply offensive.” In a retrospective acknowledgment, the broadcaster noted that it should have potentially cut the performance from its live stream, maintaining that while it values freedom of expression, it firmly opposes incitement to violence.
Meanwhile, other artists at the festival, such as the Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, found themselves in the spotlight as well. Starmer reiterated his belief that the group should not have performed. This statement follows recent legal troubles for Kneecap member Liam O’Hanna, charged with a terrorism offense related to a past performance where he allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag.
Kneecap members have vocalized their opposition to Israeli actions, comparing recent struggles faced by Palestinians to their own challenges. During their performance, O’Hanna expressed solidarity with Palestine, while fellow member Naoise Ó Cairealláin, known as Móglaí Bap, reacted defiantly against Starmer’s criticisms.
Law enforcement in Somerset is currently assessing video material from both performances to determine if any legal violations occurred. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting described Vylan’s performance as “appalling” and called for accountability from both Glastonbury organizers and the BBC.
As the festival continues, the implications of these performances raise pressing questions about the intersection of art, activism, and public safety in a volatile global context, highlighting the delicate balance that must be struck between freedom of speech and potential incitement to violence.