"Bob Vylan Stands by Glastonbury Performance Amid Police Investigation"

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Key Points

Police are investigating performances at Glastonbury for chants against Israel and Keir Starmer.
The BBC expressed regret for not halting the livestream of Bob Vylan’s act at the festival.
Visa restrictions have been imposed on Bob Vylan’s band members by the United States.

The British police have initiated a criminal investigation into performances by the musical duo Bob Vylan and Irish rap group Kneecap at Glastonbury, following chants directed against the Israeli military and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The investigation focuses on “comments made on stage” by the groups, assessing for possible public order violations based on video and audio reviews from the shows, according to the Avon and Somerset regional police.

During Vylan’s performance, chants of “death, death to the IDF” referencing the Israel Defense Forces were reported, while Kneecap led chants criticizing Prime Minister Starmer and condemning Israel before a large audience.

The police stated, “This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage. The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.”

BBC regrets not stopping Glastonbury livestream

Earlier, the BBC said it regretted not stopping the livestream of Bob Vylan’s set at Glastonbury, southwest England, after a member of the punk-rap duo led what the broadcaster called antisemitic chants against Israel’s military.

Prime Minister Starmer criticized the national broadcaster’s choice to continue streaming the performance live, and media regulator Ofcom indicated that the BBC faces questions regarding the incident.

The BBC, which broadcasts the annual festival, issued a warning on screen for strong and discriminatory language while the set was being streamed online, but said on Monday it should have gone further.

The Israeli embassy in London also condemned the incident, while Starmer demanded answers from the BBC on “how these scenes came to be broadcast.”

Bob Vylan says, ‘I said what I said’

The rap duo’s lead vocalist, who also goes by the stage name Bobby Vylan, wrote on Instagram: “I said what I said,” adding he had been “inundated with messages of both support and hatred”.

“Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place,” he said in the post, apparently in reference to the incident.

Bob Vylan, recognized for blending grime and punk rock, have previously expressed support for Palestinians. Their music often addresses themes such as racism, homophobia, and socio-economic disparities.

Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on 28 June 2025, singing on stage.

Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap of Kneecap during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025. Source: Getty / Leon Neal

Political statements by musicians on stage have been in focus since a member of Kneecap was charged last month with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group that is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain. He denies the offence.

US revokes visas for Bob Vylan

The United States has revoked visas for Bob Vylan band members following the Glastonbury incident, US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau said in a post on X.

“The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” the statement said.

The State Department did not immediately give more details as to the names of those who had visas revoked and what kind of visas they were. Bob Vylan are scheduled to play some concerts in the US in November.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters at a regular news briefing that the incident violated the standard for whom the US wants to let into the country.