BBC Criticized for Airing Bob Vylan's Glastonbury Performance

BBC believes that the live broadcast from the rap group Bob Vylan's performance at the Glastonbury festival during the weekend should have been interrupted.

» Published: June 30 2025

BBC Criticized for Airing Bob Vylan's Glastonbury Performance
Photo: Yui Mok/AP/TT

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During the performance, harsh slogans against Israel's military (IDF) were broadcast live.

"BBC respects freedom of speech but is strongly against all calls to violence. Bob Vylan's anti-Semitic statements were completely unacceptable and have no place in our broadcasts," says a representative of the public service company in a statement on Monday.

Video clips from the concert are currently being investigated by British police, and the broadcast has received harsh criticism, not least from political circles.

Britain's Culture Minister Lisa Sandy has spoken with the BBC's CEO about the performance, and Health Minister Wes Streeting has told Sky News that both the BBC and festival management must answer how the slogans could be broadcast to millions of people.

The BBC broadcast many of Glastonbury's concerts live, but had said no to the performance by the Irish controversial rap group Kneecap.

On Monday, the US announced that due to Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performance, it is revoking the British group's visa to the country.

”Foreigners who glorify violence and hate are not welcome to visit our country”, writes Deputy Foreign Minister Christopher Landau on X.

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