British music fans and political figures have expressed outrage over the anti-Israel chants made by the UK punk-rap duo Bob Vylan during their set at the Glastonbury Festival, one of the world’s largest music events. Organizers of the festival have said they are ‘appalled’ by the incident, emphasizing that the event is meant to be a space for artistic expression and cultural exchange, not for antisemitism or hate speech. The festival’s statement on Instagram read: ‘There is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.’
The controversy erupted as Vylan, the group’s singer, led the crowd in shouting ‘Death to the IDF’ and ‘Free Palestine,’ with some members of the audience chanting along. The IDF, the Israel Defense Forces, is the national military of Israel. The performance was captured on video and quickly spread across social media, drawing condemnation from a range of voices, including the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, who called the group’s remarks ‘appalling hate speech.’ The BBC, which broadcast the festival live, has reportedly removed the group’s performance from its iPlayer, citing the use of ‘very strong and discriminatory language.’
Bob Vylan, based in London, describes itself on X as the ‘prettiest punk/rap/alt thing you’ll ever meet.’ With tracks like ‘We Live Here,’ ‘Dream Bigger,’ ‘Makes Me Violent,’ and ‘Terms & Conditions,’ the band blends elements of punk and rap. Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury, which was part of a high-energy set, turned into a political platform for the singer, who ended the chant by saying, ‘Hell yeah, from the river to the sea. Palestine must be, will be inshallah, it will be free.’
The incident has reignited debates over the boundaries of free speech and political expression at major cultural events. While the festival has consistently allowed diverse voices on its stages, the organizers have now issued a stern warning that certain forms of rhetoric are unacceptable. The Glastonbury organizers have also mentioned that they are working with British police in Somerset and Avon to review videos of the incident to assess whether any criminal offenses may have been committed.
Other groups have also faced similar scrutiny, including Kneecap, which performed on Saturday despite a terror charge for one of its members over alleged support for Hezbollah. During their performance, Kneecap also led the crowd in chanting ‘Free Palestine,’ further emphasizing the polarizing nature of the topic. Glastonbury, known for its eclectic lineup, has drawn over 200,000 attendees annually, making it a significant cultural and political platform for artists and performers.
As the fallout continues, the event has become a focal point for discussions about the role of the arts in political discourse, with calls for greater accountability from artists and cultural institutions. The controversy highlights the complexities of balancing free expression with the need to protect marginalized communities from hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric.