The British Broadcasting Commission, BBC has released a statement following backlash over a controversial Glastonbury set by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, describing parts of their performance as “deeply offensive.”
During their appearance on the West Holts Stage on Saturday, June 28, the group led the crowd in politically charged chants including “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence League].” As a result, the BBC has decided not to make the performance available for on-demand viewing.
A BBC spokesperson said, “Some remarks made during Bob Vylan’s live set were deeply offensive. Although the iPlayer stream showed the performance in real time, a warning was displayed about the use of strong and discriminatory language. We do not plan to offer a replay of this set on our platform.”
Authorities are currently reviewing the footage to determine whether any legal violations occurred during the performance.
In addition, a government representative revealed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has raised the issue with the BBC’s Director General. “We strongly denounce the threatening language used by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. The Culture Secretary has spoken directly with the BBC’s leadership to demand clarification on what vetting process was followed before airing the set. She also supports the decision not to make the footage available for rewatching,” the spokesperson stated.
