


Bob Vylan Faces Backlash and Visa Revocation After Controversial Glastonbury Performance
Bob Vylan's anti-Israel chants at Glastonbury led to U.S. visa revocation, UK police investigations, and condemnation from officials, jeopardizing their North America tour.
Overview
- Bob Vylan led anti-Israel chants at Glastonbury, including 'death to the IDF', prompting backlash and investigations into potential antisemitism.
- The Trump administration revoked visas for Bob Vylan due to their incitement of violence during the performance.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the performance as 'appalling hate speech', increasing calls for action against the duo.
- Glastonbury organizers and UTA dropped Bob Vylan following the controversy, while UK police are investigating for potential public order incidents.
- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State stated that foreigners promoting violence and hatred are unwelcome in the U.S., impacting Bob Vylan's North America tour plans.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the incident as a serious breach of acceptable discourse, emphasizing condemnation from authorities and media. They highlight the tension between freedom of expression and incitement to violence, reflecting a bias against inflammatory rhetoric while acknowledging the complexities of artistic expression in politically charged contexts.
Articles (38)
Center (11)
FAQ
Bob Vylan led chants including 'death, death to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF),' 'free, free Palestine,' and the phrase 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' during their Glastonbury 2025 performance.
Bob Vylan faced backlash including the revocation of their U.S. visas by the Trump administration, investigations by UK police for potential public order offenses, condemnation from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer characterizing their chants as 'appalling hate speech,' and being dropped by Glastonbury organizers and the talent agency UTA, jeopardizing their planned North America tour.
The BBC stated it should not have livestreamed Bob Vylan's performance due to the antisemitic nature of the chants, expressed regret, and condemned the incitement to violence. The broadcaster had displayed a warning about 'very strong and discriminatory language' during the broadcast but faced criticism and calls for explanation from officials and the regulator Ofcom.
The phrase 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is interpreted differently by various groups; critics say it is a call for the destruction of Israel, while pro-Palestinian supporters argue it represents a call to end Israeli occupation. This slogan was central to the controversy over Bob Vylan's performance.
UK police have launched criminal investigations into Bob Vylan's performance on possible public order offenses related to their chants, amid wider calls from officials to address what has been described as hate speech shown during the festival.
History
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