UPDATED: The BBC has issued a statement regarding the controversy sparked by Bob Vylan‘s Glastonbury set on Saturday, with the broadcaster saying it “should have pulled” the livestream of the performance. UTA has also dropped the band as a client, sources tell Variety, and an official criminal investigation has been launched.
The punk-rap duo led the crowd in several chants during their show on Saturday afternoon — right before Irish rap group Kneecap’s highly anticipated set on the West Holts stage — including “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].”
While the BBC did not air Kneecap’s performance after recent controversy over their political statements — leading to member Mo Chara recently being charged under the U.K.’s Terrorism Act — Bob Vylan’s set was shown live. In addition to the “death to the IDF” chant, Bob Vylan also led the crowd in chanting “free, free Palestine” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine must be free.”
“The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen,” the BBC said on Monday. “The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. In light of this weekend, we will look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”
A police investigation has also been officially launched into both Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s comments. An update from the Avon and Somerset Police on Monday reads in part: “Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken. A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation. This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage. The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.”
On Sunday, Glastonbury organizers said they were “appalled” by Bob Vylan’s statements. “Their chants very much crossed a line and 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,” the festival said in a statement.
Later on Sunday, lead singer Bobby Vylan put out a statement via Instagram with the caption “I said what I said,” writing: “It is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us. Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change. Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organizing online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered.”
Representatives for Bob Vylan did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment on the BBC’s statement.
Deadline was the first to report the news about Bob Vylan being dropped by UTA.
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