UK police reviewing rapper's anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury Festival
Share and Follow

British police say they are examining videos of a band that led chants of “death to the IDF” — Israel Defence Forces — at Glastonbury Festival.

Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds attending the festival in chants of “free, free Palestine” and “death, death to the IDF” on Saturday.

Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence would be assessed by officers “to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation”.

Bob Vylan performs on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

The Israeli Embassy to the UK said on social media that it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival”.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Sunday condemned the band’s actions as “appalling”.

He told Sky News that the BBC and festival organisers had to answer questions about how the comments were broadcast live to millions.

However, he also urged Israel to “take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously” when asked about the Israeli embassy’s condemnation of the band’s actions.

The minister referred to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and “the fact that Israeli settler terrorists attacked a Christian village this week, setting it on fire”, and urged Israel to “get your own house in order”.

The government said its culture secretary spoke to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan’s performance.

The government said its culture secretary spoke to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan’s performance. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

The BBC said it issued a warning on screen about “very strong and discriminatory language” during the live stream.

Glastonbury is Britain’s biggest summer music festival and draws some 200,000 music fans each year to Worthy Farm in southwest England. Almost 4000 acts perform on 120 stages.

Festival organisers said on Instagram that Vylan’s chants “very much crossed a line”.

“We are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,” they said.

The BBC said it issued a warning on screen about “very strong and discriminatory language” during the live stream. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

“With almost 4000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.”

Saturday’s festival lineup also included Irish-language rap group Kneecap, which gave an impassioned performance for tens of thousands of fans despite criticism by British politicians and a terror charge for one of the trio.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, has been charged under the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organisation for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London in November.

The rapper, who was charged under the anglicised version of his name, Liam O’Hanna, is on unconditional bail before a further court hearing in August.

Naoise O Caireallain, left, and Liam Og of the hip hop trio Kneecap perform during the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

The group has faced criticism for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references, and for political statements, especially since videos emerged allegedly showing the band shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and calling on people to kill lawmakers.

On Saturday, band members led the audience in chants of “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo Chara”.

They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he didn’t think it was “appropriate” for Kneecap to play Glastonbury.

Rod Stewart, Olivia Rodrigo and The Prodigy are among acts playing Sunday for Glastonbury’s final day.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Multiple firefighters have been shot while responding to a fire in Coeur D'Alene in Idaho.

Firefighters in Idaho ambushed, two dead in sniper attack

Firefighters have been ambushed by sniper fire while responding to a blaze…

Benjamin Netanyahu hopes for progress in hostage situation while families in Gaza grieve for victims

Key Points Benjamin Netanyahu says war with Iran created new chances to…
Mushroom jury verdict step closer as judge wraps up

Progress made towards reaching a decision in the mushroom jury trial as the judge finishes proceedings

Jurors in mushroom cook Erin Patterson’s triple-murder trial will soon begin their…
A Melbourne AirBnB has been trashed after teenage gangs clashed when a birthday party was gatecrashed.

Bloodstains seen: Airbnb destroyed at party crash

A Melbourne Airbnb has been trashed as teenage gangs clashed when a…

Lucy came out to her Chinese mother and then attended therapy together

When Lucy Xu came out to her mother as a bisexual at…

Romanian women in webcam industry discuss mistreatment amid Andrew Tate controversy.

Content warning: This article contains references to rape and assault. Oana Maria…

Iran could resume uranium enrichment ‘within a few months,’ Rafael Grossi warns

Key Points IAEA chief Grossi says Iran retains irreversible nuclear knowledge and…

Is Iran at risk of a change in government, and what might that entail?

Iran’s supreme leader was publicly absent as airstrikes illuminated the skies above…