The BBC has responded after it came under fire for broadcasting a live performance at Glastonbury in which punk-rap artist Bob Vylan led the crowd in a number of chants, including: “Death to the IDF.”
Following widespread backlash, the broadcaster admitted it should have taken the live stream offline during the incident.
In a statement released Monday, the BBC said that while the crew was responding in real-time, “with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen,” Sky News reported.
The moment has prompted concern from Ofcom, the UK’s media watchdog, which said it was “very concerned” about the decision to air the set and confirmed it is now in discussions with the BBC to understand what editorial controls were in place. The government also questioned how the comments were allowed to be broadcast, according to The Independent.
Glastonbury’s organizers were quick to distance themselves from the incident, stating they were “appalled” by the remarks, which they said "crossed a line".
During Saturday’s performance, frontman Bobby Vylan also shouted “free, free Palestine” and used the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” - a phrase some critics argue calls for the destruction of Israel, a claim disputed by some pro-Palestinian activists.
The BBC reiterated its opposition to hate speech and incitement to violence: “We respect freedom of expression but stand firmly against anything that promotes harm,” a spokesperson said. “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our platforms.”
The performance was streamed live with a viewer warning but has since been removed from BBC iPlayer.
The network added that it will now revisit its policies for broadcasting live events to prevent similar issues in the future. GB News reports that Bob Vylan may now be facing a ban on visiting the US following the incident.
Ofcom said it is treating the matter as a priority and is collecting further details “as a matter of urgency.”
Bob Vylan, a politically outspoken punk duo originally formed in Ipswich in 2017 and now based in London, is known for its provocative lyrics and anti-establishment stance. The group has performed at several major festivals and supported acts like The Offspring and Biffy Clyro.