British police have begun reviewing statements made by artists Bob Vylan and Kneecap during their sets at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival, particularly in light of strong political commentary surrounding the Israeli military and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
During his performance on the West Holts Stage, rapper Bobby Vylan led chants including “Free, free Palestine,” escalating to a controversial declaration of “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).” A backdrop during his set read: “United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict,’” criticizing media portrayal of the war.
Israeli Embassy and Glastonbury Condemn Violent Rhetoric, Urge Respect and Responsibility
The Israeli Embassy in the UK condemned the remarks, calling them “inflammatory and hateful,” and expressing concern over what it views as the normalization of violent rhetoric. They urged festival organizers, artists, and UK leaders to denounce such messages. The embassy emphasized that chanting phrases like “Death to the IDF” in front of large audiences could be seen as glorifying violence, which could potentially incite hatred and deepen division.
Police Review Glastonbury Sets After Artists Condemn IDF, Spark Outrage Over Political RhetoricGlastonbury Festival organizers issued a strong statement in response, distancing themselves from the content of the performances. They stated that such rhetoric had “crossed a line” and reaffirmed their zero-tolerance policy on antisemitism, hate speech, and incitement to violence. The organizers also promised to remind all contributors to the festival of these core values going forward.
Kneecap’s Defiant Set Amid Legal Troubles Sparks Broader Debate on Artistic Expression
Separately, the performance by Irish-language hip hop group Kneecap also drew attention. Mo Chara, a member of the trio, is currently facing a terrorism-related charge over the alleged display of a Hezbollah flag at a London gig in 2024. Despite political backlash, including disapproval from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Kneecap performed as scheduled.
During their set, the group criticized Starmer and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, with Móglaí Bap encouraging public support and ending with a call for “no riots, just love.”
Law enforcement in Somerset, where the festival takes place, confirmed they are reviewing footage of both performances to assess if any criminal offences occurred. UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting labeled the events “appalling” and suggested both the BBC and Glastonbury organizers have “questions to answer.”
In response, the BBC acknowledged the offensive nature of some comments and announced it would not make Bob Vylan’s performance available on iPlayer. The incident has reignited debate around freedom of expression, hate speech, and the responsibilities of public broadcasters and cultural platforms.