Police say they are assessing videos of comments made by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at the Glastonbury music festival to determine if any offences were committed that would require a criminal investigation.
Punk group Bob Vylan led chants of “free, free Palestine” and also “death, death to the IDF” referring to Israel’s military — during their set, which came just before Kneecap’s performance.
UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director-general, seeking an urgent explanation about what due diligence the broadcaster carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance.
A BBC spokesperson said some of the comments during the Bob Vylan set are deeply offensive — and the decision has been made not to make the performance available on demand.
The spokesperson added during the livestream, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language.
Police are reviewing videos of comments made by punk duo Bob Vylan during their Glastonbury performance. Source: PA / Yui Mok
Meanwhile, Kneecap, who are vocal critics of Israel’s military action in Gaza, during their performance criticised Israel — accusing it of genocide, an allegation denied by Israel’s government.
The Israeli embassy in the UK on a social media post on X said it is “deeply disturbed” by the chants.
“When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence,” it said.
The Irish-language band have been in the headlines after rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying the flag of listed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig last year.
The Iran-backed Lebanese force is banned in the UK, and it is an offence to express support for them.
Chara has denied the charge and said the video featuring the flag has been taken out of context.
Asked whether he regretted waving it, and other comments caught on camera, Chara told the Guardian in an interview published Friday: “Why should I regret it? It was a joke — we’re playing characters.”
Fans say there are different views about the band’s approach.
“It’s actually vital that artists are free to speak their mind and speak their feelings without feeling like they are restricted and censored, otherwise the art isn’t pure,” according to a fan.
“I think they have obviously gone a bit close to the mark sometimes but if you are an Irish person living in Ireland you’ve lived a hundred years of oppression in Northern Ireland, so why can’t you say what you feel is right?” another fan said.
Kneecap lead anti-Keir Starmer chant at Glastonbury
The band also took aim at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the performance at Saturday’s festival, after Starmer had said their appearance was “not appropriate”.
In front of thousands of fans, many waving Palestinian flags, Kneecap led the capacity crowd in chanting abuse about Starmer.
“The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer,” Chara told the crowd.
“Glastonbury, I’m a free man.
“This situation can be quite stressful but it’s minimal compared to what the Palestinian people are (facing),” said Chara, wearing his trademark keffiyeh.
