Bob Vylan Fires Back at Glastonbury Backlash, Defends Spotlight on Palestinian Genocide
BBC Admits Mistake in Livestreaming Bob Vylan’s Performance at the Glastonbury Festival
Following a wave of criticism after their Glastonbury Festival performance, Bob Vylan has issued a passionate statement rejecting accusations that their political message was inappropriate for the event.
The band insists they are being unfairly scapegoated for drawing attention to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians by Israel.
They argue that their role as musicians is not just to entertain but to challenge audiences and highlight urgent social and political issues.
“Not the first. Not the last,” the band began. “Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace. Last week, it was a Palestine pressure group. The week before that, another band.”
Read More: BBC Admits Mistake in Livestreaming Bob Vylan’s Performance at the Glastonbury Festival
Bob Vylan described themselves as a “distraction” only because they are forcing people to confront uncomfortable realities that many would rather ignore.
“We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story,” Bob Vylan wrote. “And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”
“The government doesn’t want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity. To ask why they aren’t doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?”
The duo also called on others to join them in speaking out. “We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too. Free Palestine.”
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Their statement underscores their commitment to using their platform to raise awareness and resist attempts to silence their activism.
The controversy has sparked broader conversations about the place of political expression in major cultural events and the responsibilities artists have in addressing global injustices.
On Saturday, June 28, 2025, British rap-punk duo Bob Vylan performed at the Glastonbury Festival’s West Holts Stage, where lead vocalist Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chants including “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
The performance was broadcast live by the BBC, which later expressed regret for not cutting the livestream amid the antisemitic and violent rhetoric.
