What was supposed to be a celebration of music and free expression at Glastonbury has now turned into a storm of controversy—centered on a performance that some say should never have been aired in the first place.
The BBC is in the hot seat for broadcasting a politically explosive set by punk duo Bob Vylan, and the fallout is growing by the hour.
The Moment That Sparked a National Debate
It all began during Bob Vylan’s Saturday afternoon performance on the West Holts Stage, when frontman Bobby Vylan (real name Pascal Robinson-Foster) shouted “Death to the IDF” and led chants of “Free Palestine.”
The comments were aired live on BBC iPlayer as part of the Glastonbury broadcast.
Though a warning label for strong and discriminatory language was placed on the screen, the full set was streamed for 40 minutes before the BBC eventually decided not to make it available on demand.
Now, the broadcaster has admitted they “should have pulled the stream” in real-time—and both Ofcom and critics across the political spectrum are demanding answers.
Police Investigation and International Condemnation
Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, Israel’s government, the Campaign Against Antisemitism, and multiple UK politicians have slammed the performance as dangerous and deeply offensive.
The singer’s call—widely viewed by critics as antisemitic and inciting violence—has already led to calls for prosecution.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp went as far as saying the BBC should also be investigated for airing the comments.
The Israeli embassy expressed alarm at what they called “inflammatory and hateful rhetoric” on a major public platform.
BBC Responds With Regret but Faces Growing Pressure
In a follow-up statement, the BBC acknowledged their handling fell short.
“We regret that the performance was not cut off sooner,” they said, adding that they support free expression but do not tolerate incitement to violence or hate speech.
The broadcaster promised to revisit its editorial guidelines for live event coverage, stating they will ensure “teams are clear on when to keep output on air.”
Watchdog Ofcom Steps In With Official Inquiry
Ofcom, the UK’s media watchdog, confirmed it is now involved and pressing the BBC for a full explanation.
“We are very concerned,” the regulator said.
“We’re urgently obtaining more information, including what editorial procedures were in place during the broadcast.”
Bobby Vylan Defends His Words Online
Despite the uproar, Robinson-Foster doubled down on social media.
In a post titled “I said what I said,” he defended his on-stage comments and tied them to a broader call for activism.
Reflecting on his daughter’s school survey about healthier lunches, he said her voice reminded him that speaking up—whether about school dinners or foreign policy—matters.
He urged fans to keep fighting for change and insisted the next generation must “see us marching, campaigning and shouting on every stage we are offered.”
Glastonbury Organisers Join the Condemnation
Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis broke her silence, saying Bob Vylan’s words “crossed a line” and reaffirmed that antisemitism, hate speech, and incitement to violence have no place at Glastonbury.
The organisers are now reviewing how such content made it to a live global audience.
Comparisons to Past Hate Speech Prosecutions Emerge
Commentators have drawn parallels to past legal cases, including that of childminder Lucy Connolly, who was sentenced to over two years in prison for incendiary social media posts about asylum seekers.
Critics argue that if Connolly’s posts were deemed prosecutable, then Bob Vylan’s words—aired to millions—should meet the same standard or stricter.
Others, however, including Toby Young of the Free Speech Union, argue that while Bob Vylan’s comments were offensive, neither Connolly nor Robinson-Foster should face prosecution.
Still, the pressure on authorities to act is mounting.
BBC Accused of Failing to Prepare for Controversial Acts
Media veterans are now questioning the BBC’s decision-making process.
Dorothy Byrne, former Channel 4 news editor, said the BBC should’ve been better prepared.
“They knew Bob Vylan had a history of political messaging,” she said, “so they should’ve had a backup plan—like cutting the feed if things went too far.”
Craig Oliver, a former BBC news editor and advisor to David Cameron, echoed that view, calling for a clear mechanism to cut broadcasts when hate speech surfaces.
He suggested the BBC station a senior editorial producer at Glastonbury in future years to act fast when something controversial unfolds live.
Government Ministers Call for Accountability
The performance has sparked responses from across the political spectrum.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it a “shameless publicity stunt” and questioned how it made it to air.
Kemi Badenoch, Conservative leader, called the chants “grotesque,” warning that glorifying violence against Jews should never be tolerated.
Meanwhile, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel called it a “systemic failure”, warning that broadcasting such content risks normalising antisemitism in society.
Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson added that political debate has its place, but hate speech has no home at cultural events like Glastonbury.
A Bigger Question Looms Over Music, Media and Free Speech
At its heart, this controversy raises a complex debate about free speech, censorship, and responsibility—especially in live performance settings where emotions run high and oversight is limited.
Whether Bob Vylan’s comments will lead to criminal charges, tighter media regulation, or lasting changes to how live events are broadcast remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear—this Glastonbury moment will echo far beyond the fields of Worthy Farm.