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

Trump Sounds Alarm: Potential Iran Conflict Looms as He Urges Hamas Disarmament in Netanyahu Talks

United States President Donald Trump said the US could support another major…
New signage, The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, is unveiled on the Kennedy Centre.

Trump’s Name Sparks Mass Artist Exodus from Iconic Arts Venue

The Kennedy Centre is ending the year with a new round of…
The bulk of Cath Armstrong's grocery shopping for the entire year is done in just three days.

Yearly Pantry Restock: Cath Prepares for 2026 with Detailed Meal Planning Strategy

Cath Armstrong is not a fan of grocery shopping, so the Victorian…
The worst of the rainfall is set to hit in the next two days, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Queensland Braces for Flash Floods: Urgent Warnings Issued Amid Torrential Downpours

Residents in North Queensland are being told to prepare for life-threatening flash…
A passing driver then boxed the car in to prevent the carjacker from driving off, leading him to jump out of the car and run to a waiting Nissan Navara with registration 1OL9CF.

Melbourne Carjacking Fiasco: Police Search for Suspect After Bold Daylight Attempt

Police are asking the public to help identify a man who fled…
Passengers were seen on the railway tracks after escaping from the crashed train.

Families Seek Justice and Answers in Tragic Mexico Train Crash Inquiry

Survivors and families of the victims of a deadly train crash in…
Coral Adventurer

Australian Cruise Ship Detained After Grounding Incident Off Papua New Guinea Coast

The cruise ship Coral Adventurer, based in Cairns, has been detained by…
Granddaughter of John F Kennedy dies weeks after terminal cancer reveal

Tragic Loss: JFK’s Granddaughter Succumbs to Cancer Weeks After Diagnosis

Tatiana Schlossberg, known for her work as an environmental journalist and as…