Police are investigating controversial performances at Glastonbury Festival after artists Bobby Vylan of Bob Vylan and members of the Irish rap trio Kneecap made inflammatory remarks during their sets.
On Saturday, Bobby Vylan led the crowd on the West Holts Stage in chants including “Free, free Palestine” and the highly provocative statement, “Death, death to the IDF.” Meanwhile, a member of Kneecap urged fans to “start a riot” outside an upcoming court appearance of his bandmate, though he later softened his comments, emphasizing “no riots, just love and support for Palestine.”
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they are reviewing video footage from the festival to determine if any criminal offences were committed.
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The Israeli Embassy condemned the rhetoric as “deeply disturbing,” warning that slogans like “Death to the IDF” and “From the river to the sea” advocate for the destruction of Israel and pose serious risks of normalizing extremist language and violence. They called on festival organizers, artists, and UK public leaders to denounce such rhetoric.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the scenes as “grotesque,” stressing that glorifying violence against Jews is dangerous incitement, not legitimate protest. She pointed to the recent tragic history of mass violence at music festivals as a grim reminder of the potential consequences when hate speech goes unchecked.
The BBC acknowledged some of Bobby Vylan’s comments during the live stream were “deeply offensive” and issued warnings of strong and discriminatory language during the broadcast. Consequently, the BBC will not offer the performance on demand. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has engaged directly with the BBC director general to seek clarity on how the broadcast was approved and expressed strong condemnation of the remarks made on stage.
Kneecap, based in Belfast, has faced controversy prior to the festival; one member, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, is charged with a terrorism offence related to alleged support for Hezbollah. During the set, bandmate Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) antagonized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer by saying, “so f*** Keir Starmer,” while thanking the Eavis family, festival founders, for standing firm amid calls for their removal.
O hAnnaidh appeared on stage wearing a keffiyeh, while DJ Provai wore a T-shirt supporting Palestine Action, a group facing government proscription. Audience members booed soundbites critical of the band before their performance, while many waved Irish and Palestinian flags in the area around the West Holts Stage, which was closed to the public shortly before their set due to crowding.
Earlier, the BBC had confirmed it would not live stream Kneecap’s performance due to concerns, contradicting earlier statements that it might appear on-demand later.
O hAnnaidh’s court appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court drew chants of support from hundreds wearing “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts. He was released on unconditional bail pending his next hearing in August.
The ongoing fallout highlights tensions about freedom of expression, the boundaries of protest, and the responsibilities of artists and broadcasters during a major cultural event.