Bob Vylan Defends Gaza Comments Amid Criticism/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan denies antisemitism after leading Glastonbury chants against Israel’s military. Politicians, police, and the BBC condemned the performance as hateful. The artists insist they’re being targeted for speaking out on Gaza’s devastation.
Bob Vylan Glastonbury Controversy Quick Looks
- Bob Vylan faces backlash over anti-IDF chants at Glastonbury
- British police investigating possible hate speech offense
- Group insists chants were against military, not Jewish people
- BBC criticized for livestreaming performance without interruption
- UK’s Chief Rabbi condemns performance as “vile Jew-hatred”
- US revokes Bob Vylan’s visas over incident
- Kneecap also under investigation for alleged Hezbollah links
- Gaza war deaths surpass 56,000 since October 2023
Deep Look
Bob Vylan Rejects Antisemitism Accusations Amid Glastonbury Gaza Uproar
LONDON (AP) — British rap-punk duo Bob Vylan on Tuesday firmly denied accusations of antisemitism after incendiary comments during their set at the Glastonbury Festival sparked outrage, a criminal investigation, and political condemnation.
The controversy erupted after frontman Bob Vylan led festivalgoers in chants of “Death to the IDF” — referring to Israel’s Defense Forces — during a performance on Saturday in southwest England.
Government, BBC, Chief Rabbi Condemn Chants
UK government officials slammed the chants as “appalling hate speech,” while the BBC, which livestreamed the performance, expressed regret for broadcasting what it called “antisemitic sentiments.”
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis condemned the incident as a “moment of national shame,” accusing some audiences of mistaking violent rhetoric for political discourse.
“It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it,” Mirvis posted on social media.
Bob Vylan Says They’re Being Targeted
In a statement on Instagram, Bob Vylan insisted their chants were directed at Israel’s military actions in Gaza, not the Jewish people.
“We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group of people,” the duo wrote. “We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine… A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
They added: “We are being targeted for speaking up.”
Police Probe, US Visa Revoked
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they are investigating Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance for potential criminal offenses related to hate speech.
The fallout has been swift. U.S. authorities revoked Bob Vylan’s visas in the wake of the controversy, complicating the band’s touring plans.
The BBC faces growing pressure to explain why it did not cut its broadcast feed when the anti-IDF chants began, prompting calls from some politicians and Jewish leaders for greater editorial oversight during live events.
Kneecap Also Under Scrutiny
Bob Vylan isn’t the only act under investigation. Police are also reviewing a performance by Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap, whose outspoken pro-Palestinian views have drawn political criticism.
Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged under the UK’s Terrorism Act for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag during a London concert last year.
Gaza Conflict Drives Global Tensions
The controversy underscores the intense global emotions surrounding Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which erupted after Hamas launched a deadly October 2023 attack killing about 1,200 people in Israel and abducting 251 hostages.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties but says over half of the dead are women and children.
Protests over the war have spread worldwide, from college campuses in the U.S. to streets across Europe. Israel and its supporters argue many demonstrations cross the line into antisemitism, while critics counter that such accusations are used to silence legitimate opposition to Israeli policies.
Bob Vylan’s case has quickly become a flashpoint in that larger debate, raising thorny questions about free expression, artistic protest, and where criticism of Israel ends and antisemitism begins.
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