Share and Follow

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.

Glastonbury Festival 2025

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.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Has the United States learned from the Iraq War now that there is a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, courtesy of Trump?

Noor Aljaberi was in her early 20s and studying IT in Baghdad…
Icy polar blast weather ACT, NSW

Some experiencing the coldest June in memory due to icy weather on the east coast

June has been the coldest first month of winter in nearly 20…
Protesters line highway to oppose Trump's 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Protesters Oppose Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Along Highway

A coalition of groups, ranging from environmental activists to Native Americans advocating…
Relatives of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip mourn their deaths at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

“Israeli airstrikes claim lives of 72 in Gaza, including innocent sleeping family”

Three children and their parents were killed in an Israeli strike on…
Mystery bone fragment found in private search for abducted children

A mysterious bone piece discovered during a private search for missing children

An unusual piece of bone was discovered during the search at a…
Police uncover drug lab in Sydney's west

Police discover suburban drug lab in western Sydney

Police have seized over 100kg of methamphetamine products during a raid of…

Despite Warning, 200,000 Brave Ban to Attend Pride March

Record numbers of people have marched in the Budapest Pride parade, defying…
Olivia White, influencer and content creator

Olivia Exposes the Identity of Her Anonymous Troll, Leading to a Snowball Effect

The internet may be about to experience a seismic shift. Influencer Indy…