Bob Vylan, the Ipswich-based duo, have been dropped by their talent agency after sparking outrage with their contentious performance at Glastonbury Festival. The band ignited controversy by leading chants of “death to the IDF” on stage at Worthy Farm, provoking condemnation from Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis, the BBC, politicians, and the wider public.
Their politically charged set on the West Holts stage on Saturday quickly became a flashpoint. In the aftermath, United Talent Agency removed Bob Vylan from their roster, with Deadline reporting internal discussions that culminated in the decision to end their professional relationship.
The BBC admitted it mishandled the live broadcast of Bob Vylan’s explosive act. Although the performance was initially streamed on BBC iPlayer, it took over five hours for the broadcaster to remove the segment. A BBC statement expressed regret, saying: “Millions tuned in to Glastonbury this weekend, but one live-streamed performance included comments that were deeply offensive. While respecting freedom of expression, the BBC stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.”
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The statement further explained that the initial decision to display a warning during the live stream aligned with editorial guidelines, and the performance was subsequently removed from on-demand viewing. The BBC acknowledged that, in hindsight, the stream should have been pulled during the live event and pledged to review its policies governing live broadcasts to ensure clearer guidance in the future.
In response, Bob Vylan’s Bobby Vylan posted on Instagram, defiantly stating, “I said what I said,” and elaborated on issues such as the quality of school meals and the importance of empowering children to advocate for change.
Emily Eavis, Glastonbury’s organiser, condemned the performance, stating: “We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan. Their chants crossed a line, and we are urgently reminding all involved in the festival that hate speech, antisemitism, and incitement to violence have no place at Glastonbury.”