THE Government has slammed the BBC after it streamed Glastonbury crowds chanting “Death to the IDF” while led by punk duo Bob Vylan at the festival.
The English group, based in London, were streamed live by the BBC as they led the chant.
Footage of Glastonbury crowds chanting “death to the IDF” during Bob Vylan set aired live on BBC and was later posted on X
Shutterstock EditorialBob Vylan on the barrier Glastonbury Festival[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialVideo posted on X heard the crowds chant along with Bobby Vylan, the singer and guitarist[/caption]
PABob Vylan crowdsurfing during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm[/caption]
They performed directly before controversial group Kneecap.
Video posted on X heard the crowds chant along with Bobby Vylan, the singer and guitarist, and Bobbie Vylan, the drummer.
The pair use stage names to maintain their privacy.
The footage first hears the band members and crowds chant “Free free” before Bobby says: “Have you heard this one though?
“Death, death, to the IDF.”
The crowds then parroted the chant back at him.
Furious comments flooded in on social media in the wake of the performance.
One asked: “Isn’t it supposed to be a music concert?” while another said: “What happened to peace and love?”
Another comment said: “Mental how the BBC will stream Bob Vylan but not Kneecap.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy phoned the BBC director-general Tim Davie demanding an explanation for why the BBC aired the chants live.
A spokesman for Ms Nandy told The Telegraph: “We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.
“The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC director-general to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.”
Cops said they are examining video footage of the comments made onstage to decide whether an investigation is needed.
The Israeli Embassy said that chants like Saturday’s “advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel”.
“The Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival.
The post on X added: “When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence.”
Commenting on the chants about the IDF, a BBC spokesperson said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were 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.
“We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
It comes after the Irish language rap trio Kneecap had a string of recent incidents including one of its members being charged with a terror offence.
Kneecap also shared an image of a “terror group” T-shirt before leading a Glastonbury crowd in another “free Palestine” chant.
Balaclava-clad rapper JJ O Dochartaigh was seen in an X post wearing the top, which refers to the anti-Israel campaign group Palestine Action, amid British government plans to make it illegal to join the organisation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has the power to proscribe any such group under the Terrorism Act of 2000 if she believes it is “concerned in terrorism”.
Festival organisers announced just prior to the band’s set at 4pm there was “no access” to West Holts – the stage where Kneecap performed – following warnings it may have to lock down part of the site due to surge fears.
It comes after the BBC confirmed it would not be broadcasting the Irish trio’s performance live following Sir Keir Starmer saying they should be banned from appearing altogether.
However, the set was streamed elsewhere on social media.
Kneecap frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh was charged under the Terrorism Act last month after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a gig in Kentish Town, north London, in November.
A BBC spokesperson said today: “As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
“Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines.
“We don’t always live stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap’s performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets.”
The band themselves addressed a post on X to “a chairde Gael” – which means “Gaelic friends” – in which they said they’d been contacted by the “propaganda wing of the regime”.
The post added: “They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the I-player later this evening for your viewing pleasure.
“The crowd expected today is far greater than West Holts capacity so you’ll need to be very early to catch us father….VERY EARLY”.
A festival statement released earlier today warned: “Kneecap will draw a large audience for their 4pm West Holts show.
“If you’re not planning to see them, please plan alternative routes around that area.
“If you do plan to attend, listen to stewards, and please have some other entertainment options in mind in case the field reaches capacity and we need to close it as part of our crowd planning measures.”
Earlier this month Og O hAnnaidh – who also performs under the stage name Mo Chara – and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and O Dochartaigh – were mobbed by hundreds of fans outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
He was released on unconditional bail – and is due at the same court on August 20 for the next hearing.
PABob Vylan performing on the West Holts stage during the Glastonbury Festival[/caption]
PABob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage was then crowdsurfed[/caption]
AlamyMo Chara and Moglai Bap of Kneecap performing during the Glastonbury Festival[/caption]
AlamyThe crowd watch Kneecap performing during the Glastonbury Festival[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
