In London, British authorities are scrutinizing videos from the Glastonbury Festival after a performance by the rap punk duo Bob Vylan included chants like “death to the IDF”—referring to the Israel Defense Forces. There were also calls of “free, free Palestine” directed by rapper Bobby Vylan to the attending crowds during Saturday’s event.
Avon and Somerset Police are currently reviewing footage to assess if any comments made by performers may have breached legal limits and require further investigation. Aside from Bob Vylan, Irish-language rap group Kneecap also took the stage amid ongoing controversy surrounding a member facing terror charges for allegedly expressing support for Hezbollah, all the while rallying a large audience with calls to “Free Palestine.”
The Israeli Embassy in the U.K. expressed serious concern over the provocative language used during the festival, making their stance known through social media outlets. U.K. Health Secretary Wes Streeting critiqued Bob Vylan’s remarks as “appalling” in a discussion on Sky News, questioning how such expressions were aired live to a large audience.
Despite his objections, Streeting also remarked on the need for Israel to more rigorously address its own citizens’ actions toward Palestinians, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and recent violent incidents involving Israeli settlers. He urged Israel to better manage its internal affairs.
The government confirmed that its culture secretary had addressed Bob Vylan’s actions with the BBC director general. In response, the BBC mentioned that a warning regarding the “very strong and discriminatory language” was displayed during the live broadcast.
As Britain’s largest summer music festival, Glastonbury attracts around 200,000 attendees each year to its venue at Worthy Farm in southwest England. The festival hosts nearly 4,000 acts on 120 different stages. Organizers issued a statement on Instagram, clarifying that Vylan’s chants had “very much crossed a line” and reaffirming that Glastonbury opposes antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.
They added a reminder that with thousands of performances, there could be artists appearing whose views they do not endorse, emphasizing that a performer’s presence should not be construed as an endorsement of their beliefs.
Bob Vylan has maintained privacy by keeping their real names undisclosed since their founding in 2017. They have released four albums. Meanwhile, the rap group Kneecap continues to attract criticism, particularly concerning its stance on Middle Eastern politics. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, faces a charge under the Terrorism Act, accused of waving a Hezbollah flag during a London performance. He is on bail pending a court appearance in August.
Kneecap faced additional scrutiny for alleged videos where band members reportedly endorsed Hamas and Hezbollah and incited violence against lawmakers. During their Glastonbury performance, the band also led chants supporting Mo Chara and directed offensive chants at U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who previously criticized their festival participation.
As Glastonbury reached its final day on Sunday, notable acts such as Rod Stewart, Olivia Rodrigo, and The Prodigy were lined up to perform.