“Death to the IDF”: Bob Vylan Sparks Global Backlash After Glastonbury Debacle

Task Force Involvement: Leo Terrell, chair of the Department of Justice’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, announced plans to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio on June 30, 2025, to ensure Bob Vylan cannot enter the U.S. Terrell called the chants “abhorrent” and aimed to prevent “violent antisemitic rhetoric” during the tour.

StopAntisemitism Advocacy: The group StopAntisemitism, led by Liora Rez, has pushed for visa revocation, labeling Bobby Vylan’s chants as antisemitic and inciting violence. They posted on X, “This antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded - his hate is not welcome here,” highlighting their campaign to block the duo’s U.S. entry.

Reactions and Investigations

UK Official Condemnations: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the chants “appalling hate speech,” demanding an explanation from the BBC for broadcasting them. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called them “revolting,” referencing the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on an Israeli music festival, but also urged Israel to address settler violence against Palestinians. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy sought answers from the BBC, and the Israeli Embassy in the UK condemned the “inflammatory and hateful rhetoric.”

Glastonbury Organizers: Festival organizer Emily Eavis stated the chants “very much crossed a line,” emphasizing that Glastonbury does not endorse performers’ views but has no place for “antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.” The festival, hosting nearly 4,000 acts, distanced itself from the performance.

BBC Response: The BBC called the comments “deeply offensive,” issuing an on-screen warning about “very strong and discriminatory language” during the live stream. The performance was removed from BBC iPlayer and will not be available on demand. The broadcaster faced criticism for not vetting the act, with antisemitism campaigners and UK Lawyers for Israel accusing it of potentially violating laws against inciting racial hatred.

Police Investigation:

Avon and Somerset Police are reviewing video evidence to determine if Bob Vylan’s chants constitute a criminal offense, such as incitement to violence or racial hatred. This follows comparisons to a case where Lucy Connolly was jailed for 31 months for a racist social media post. No arrests have been reported.

Bob Vylan’s Response:

On June 29, Bobby Vylan posted on Instagram, mocking critics with a photo of himself eating vegan ice cream, captioned, “While zionists are crying on socials, I’ve just had late night (vegan) ice cream.” On June 30, he doubled down, stating his phone was “buzzing non-stop” with support and hatred, but stood by his comments, calling for a “change in foreign policy” and emphasizing the importance of inspiring future generations to advocate for change. He captioned this, “I said what I said.”

Kneecap Controversy: The Irish rap group Kneecap, who performed after Bob Vylan, also led “Free Palestine” chants and faced scrutiny for past statements, including one member, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara), being charged under the Terrorism Act for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a November 2024 London concert. The BBC did not stream Kneecap’s set due to these concerns.

U.S. Tour Implications

Inertia Tour: Bob Vylan’s planned U.S. tour, set to begin in October 2025, includes major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. The visa revocation, if enacted, would prevent these performances, aligning with the Trump administration’s policy against admitting foreigners deemed to support terrorism. No final decision has been confirmed.

UPDATE: Not only were their visas revoked, but also their talent agency dropped them.

Sources: BBC, NY Times, The Guardian, AP News, Daily Mail