Punk rap duo Bob Vylan have been removed from the line-up at Radar festival in Manchester following a controversial performance at Glastonbury Festival last weekend. The group, who were scheduled to headline Radar’s Saturday slot, will no longer appear, with the festival updating its website to list the slot as “Headliner TBA.”
The controversy arose when rapper Bobby Vylan led chants of “death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)” during their livestreamed Glastonbury set, prompting Avon and Somerset police to launch an investigation. The BBC, which livestreamed the performance, has since apologized, describing the chants as “antisemitic sentiments” and “unacceptable.” BBC director-general Tim Davie, present at Glastonbury during the performance, stated he was informed afterward and instructed that the footage should not be featured further in coverage.
In response to their removal from Radar festival, Bob Vylan shared the announcement on Instagram with the message: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester we will be back.” The duo claims they are being “targeted for speaking up” amid mounting backlash.
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The consequences for the band continue to escalate. The U.S. government revoked Bob Vylan’s visas ahead of their planned American tour, citing a “hateful tirade at Glastonbury.” Additionally, the pair have been dropped from an upcoming performance at a German music venue.
Despite the setbacks, Bob Vylan is still expected to perform at the Boardmasters festival in Newquay, Cornwall, this August. Formed in Ipswich in 2017, the band is known for tackling political issues such as racism, masculinity, and class in their music. Bobby Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, is the group’s lead rapper, while drummer Bobbie Vylan completes the duo.