“While a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs,” the statement read, “their chants very much crossed a line.”
The BBC, which livestreamed the performance on iPlayer, issued a separate response, calling the comments “deeply offensive.” A warning was displayed during the broadcast, and the broadcaster confirmed it has no plans to make the set available on demand.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions over political speech at live performances. Bob Vylan’s set occurred shortly before that of Kneecap, an Irish rap group whose BBC broadcast was pulled following a series of controversial political statements. Kneecap’s member Mo Chara was recently charged under the U.K.’s Terrorism Act. During their own performance Saturday, the group led chants including “fuck Keir Starmer” and “free Palestine.”
As Palestinian flags waved throughout the crowd, Chara quipped, “The BBC editor is going to have some f***ing job.”
In the wake of the incidents, Avon and Somerset Police announced they are reviewing footage from both sets to determine whether criminal offenses were committed. “Video evidence will be assessed by officers,” a police spokesperson said Saturday.
The U.K. culture secretary has reportedly contacted the BBC director general, seeking “an urgent explanation” of what vetting was done before Bob Vylan’s performance.
As of Sunday, Bob Vylan had not issued a public response.
