‘Death to the IDF’ chant at Glastonbury sparks backlash for world-famous festival and the BBC.
Glastonbury Controversy: Bob Vylan’s ‘Death to the IDF’ Chant Sparks Police, BBC Fallout
What happened
During their Glastonbury 2025 performance on the West Holts stage, punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led the crowd in chanting “Death to the IDF”, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces, while calling for Palestinian solidarity. The performance was broadcast live by the BBC and quickly sparked backlash across political and media circles. Festival organisers later described the chant as “vile”, while the BBC removed the footage from iPlayer and Sounds, citing editorial standards. Police are now reviewing the footage, as is common in potential hate speech investigations.
Irish rap group Kneecap, who appeared on the same stage earlier in the day, also used their set to deliver pro-Palestinian messages and harsh criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Their lyrics referenced “British complicity” in Israel’s actions and mocked Starmer’s stance on the conflict. No arrests were made during the festival.
Why it matters
The controversy has reignited debate around freedom of speech versus incitement, especially at major cultural events with live broadcast reach. The chant from Bob Vylan, interpreted by many as calling for violence, crosses a red line for critics, particularly given the rise in antisemitism linked to the Israel-Gaza war. For the BBC and Glastonbury, the fallout raises deeper questions about how to handle politically charged performances, especially when aired live to national audiences.
Reaction
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the chant “completely unacceptable” and backed the police review. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the performance was “dangerous and inflammatory”, adding that “the BBC should never have aired it.”
Glastonbury co-organiser Emily Eavis said that while political expression was part of the festival’s ethos, “hate speech and incitement are not”, and confirmed Bob Vylan would not be invited back. Bob Vylan defended the performance on social media, claiming the chant was a “call for justice” against what they described as war crimes in Gaza.
What next
Avon & Somerset Police are reviewing footage to determine whether the chant constitutes a hate crime or incitement to violence, but have made no arrests. The BBC is conducting an internal review of its editorial oversight for live music events. Ministers are expected to summon the BBC and Glastonbury organisers to answer questions in parliament.
At the same time, free speech campaigners have warned against criminalising political performance, while pro-Palestinian groups argue the reaction is part of a broader crackdown on legitimate criticism of Israel. The outcome could set a precedent for how future festivals and broadcasters handle political content.