SIR KEIR Starmer has blasted the BBC demanding an explanation for the decision to air Bob Vylan’s horrifying chant at Glastonbury.
The Prime Minister intervened in the row after the pro-Palestine act Bob Vylan chanted “death, death to the IDF” in a sickening rant.
Shutterstock EditorialVideo posted on X heard the crowds chant along with Bob Vylan[/caption]
PABob Vylan singer Bobby Vylan crowdsurfed off the West Holts Stage[/caption]
GettyKeir Starmer has blasted the BBC, demanding corporation chiefs “explain” how a punk duo calling for the death of Israeli soldiers was broadcast from Glastonbury[/caption]
InstagramBobby seen eating ice cream after the Glastonbury performance[/caption]
His comments come after he said festival organisers should not have let controversial rappers Kneecap appear on stage.
Sir Keir said: “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.
“The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.”
Bob Vylan’s controversial antics at Glastonbury yesterday were also condemned by festival organisers, after Israel slammed the BBC.
A statement said event chiefs are “appalled” after the music double act led the crowd in “death to the IDF” chants during their performance.
Glastonbury had previously said all are welcome at the festival but added it “does not condone hate speech or incitement to violence of any kind from its performers”.
Referring to Bob Vylan, organisers then said on Sunday: “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 comes after Israeli politicians blasted the BBC and Glastonbury for failing to cut off the performance during the live broadcast of the festival.
The singer from the pro-Palestine punk act, who keeps his identity secret, also shouted “from the river to the sea Palestine… will be free” – regarded by Jews as a call for Israel‘s elimination.
IDF stands for Israel Defence Forces, the national military of the State of Israel, which is currently involved with the war in Gaza, one of two remaining Palestinian territories.
Bob Vylan – which consists of singer Bobby Vylan and guitarist Bobbie Vylan – then shared a post on X of the former eating an ice-cream with the caption: “While Zionists are crying on socials, I’ve just had a late night (vegan) ice cream.”
The BBC later took down the broadcast on the iPlayer but has been criticised for not cutting it off immediately after the anti-Semitic chanting, with the live feed continuing for another 40 minutes.
Avon and Somerset Police last night said they were examining video evidence and investigating if any offence had been committed.
Sharren Haskel, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, was among those to slam the performance.
She told The Mail on Sunday: “I condemn the BBC for continuing to live-stream anti-Israel hate speech from Glastonbury.
What have the BBC said?
A BBC spokesperson said
We have made an on-demand version of Kneecap’s performance available on iPlayer, as part of our online collection of more than 90 other sets.
We have edited it to ensure the content falls within the limits of artistic expression in line with our editorial guidelines and reflects the performance from Glastonbury’s West Holts stage.
As with all content which includes strong language, this is signposted with appropriate warnings.
As we have said before, acts are booked by the festival, and the BBC doesn’t ban artists. We didn’t stream Kneecap live.
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.
“What do you think the BBC would have done had a performer been shouting anti-Muslim or far-Right hate speech? They would have pulled the feed.
“But because the target is Israel – let’s be honest, because it’s Jews – it’s tolerated, even broadcast. This is clearly incitement.”
May Golan, Israel’s minister for social equality, said: “Perhaps someone should tell that anti-Semitic band what happened to the hundreds of innocent people at Israel’s Nova music festival who were murdered, raped, butchered, and kidnapped by savage monsters.”
Lord Ian Austin, the Government’s trade envoy to Israel, said: “The police should investigate as a matter of urgency and, if necessary, arrest the band members.”
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Telegraph: “It seems very clear that this man was directly inciting violence. He should receive the same treatment under the law as others, such as Lucy Connolly.
“He should be arrested and prosecuted immediately. A failure to do so would be a clear example of two-tier justice under Sir Keir Starmer and his attorney general, Lord Hermer.”
The Bob Vylan set came immediately before controversial group Kneecap, which the Beeb had refused to show live.
Singer 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.
The band’s X account posted a photo of member JJ O Dochartaigh in a t-shirt with the words “We Are All Palestine Action” an hour before they took to the stage.
The British government is considering making membership of the anti-Israel activist group illegal.
PAThe BBC has been criticised for not cutting the live broadcast[/caption]
AlamyBob Vylan’s set came immediately before Kneecap[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialThe singer waving a Palestine flag[/caption]
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”.
Kneecap – whose set is still available to stream – also chanted about Palestine, as well as making derogatory statements about PM Sir Keir Starmer, who last week said they should not be allowed to perform at the festival.
Commenting on the chants about the IDF, a BBC spokesperson says: “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,” the response continues.
“We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
Bob Vylan, who formed eight years ago in London, refuse to reveal their real names because of what they call the “surveillance state”.
Addressing the crowd of around 30,000, Bobby said he had to be “careful” because their performance was “live on the BBC”.
He then, however, led the “free, free Palestine” chant, then changing it to “death, death to the IDF”.
“Hell, yeah, from the river to the sea Palestine must, will be, Inshallah, it will be free,” he added.
The singer also backed Kneecap by describing music executives who called for the group to be banned as “Zionists”.
He went on to use the highly offensive c-word.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “I thought it was appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer.
“But I also think it’s a pretty shameless publicity stunt, which I don’t really want to give too much indulgence to.”
I thought it was appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer. But I also think it’s a pretty shameless publicity stunt, which I don’t really want to give too much indulgence to.
Wes Streeting
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch branded the comments “grotesque”, adding: “Glorifying violence against Jews isn’t edgy.
“The cultural establishment needs to wake up to the fact this isn’t protest, it’s incitement.”
Danny Cohen, former director of BBC Television, said: “That something like this might happen could easily have been foreseen by the BBC and measures could have been taken to prevent its broadcast.
“This is a very serious failure, and further evidence that BBC management are blind to their responsibility to Britain’s Jewish community.”
Kneecap
Kneecap member Naoise Ó Caireallain called on the crowd to “riot” outside Westminster magistrates in August when bandmate O hAnnaidh’s case returns to court.
Kneecap started their performance by chanting “f*** Keir Starmer”.
They also spoke out in support of Palestine Action.
Avon and Somerset Police posted on X: “We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.
“Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”
GettyLiam Og O hAnnaidh and Naoise O Caireallain of Kneecap during the Glastonbury set[/caption]
InstagramKneecap member JJ O Dochartaigh in a ‘We Are All Palestine Action’ t-shirt ahead of the band’s Glastonbury performance[/caption]
GettyKneecap fans holding up the same T-shirts prior to the performance[/caption]
GettyDJ Provaí during the performance[/caption]
EPAOg O hAnnaidh sits in a taxi after he left Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
