The Beeb has decided not to show Kneecap’s performance, but crowds watching Bob Vylan — who performed just before them — were recorded singing obscene anti-Israel chants live on iPlayer
Glastonbury crowds chanted “Death to the IDF” and “Free Palestine” in scenes streamed live on the BBC — led by British punk group Bob Vylan. The duo were performing directly before Irish rap trio Kneecap, who the BBC refused to show live amid fears of what they would say after one of its members was charged with a terror offence.
But Beeb bosses were left red-faced when the duo — who perform under the stage names Bobby Vylan and Bob Vylan — led the chants during their set on the West Holts stage.
Footage first hears the band members and crowds chant “Free free Palestine”, before Bobby asks: “Have you heard this one though?”
He then chants “Death, death, to the IDF,” which is chanted back at him by the huge crowd, swollen by Kneecap fans getting in place early.
The duo also performed in front of a backdrop which read: “Free Palestine. The United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict’.”
It comes as the BBC backed out of live-streaming Kneecap’s performance after several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said their performance would not be “appropriate”.
Frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, aka Mo Chara, was charged with allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig last November.
A BBC spokesman said of the Kneecap performance: “While the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines.”
But one social media user mocked: “The BBC really thought they had it all covered by not live streaming Kneecaps set. Then comes along Bob Vylan.”
Another said: “The BBC thought it was all settled when they decided to censor Kneecap’s performance to avoid broadcasting pro-Palestinian sentiment… Then Bob Vylan came out and led a ‘Death to the IDF’ chant and said ‘Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free.’”
A third said: “BBC not showing Kneecap but broadcasting Bob Vylan right before hand is legit funny and shows they have no idea what they’re doing.”
It also prompted fury from supporters of Israel on social media, who dubbed it a ‘hate fest’.
One wrote: “A shame he doesn’t feel so strongly about the terrorists who killed music festivalgoers on Oct 7th.”
Another said: “Some bloke called Bob Vylan (named after the Jewish Bob Dylan?) shows how Glastonbury is all about love and inclusivity:
“Starts with ‘Free free Palestine.’ Then gets the crowd singing: ‘Death death to the IDF.’ Finishing with the genocidal flourish: ‘From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free. Inshallah.’
“This Saturday afternoon hate fest is being screened by the BBC which we all pay for.”
Another wrote: “No idea who this scumbag Bob Vylan is, but the BBC just livestreamed him from Gaza – sorry, Glastonbury ranting about Israel and ‘Zionists’ in the music industry… What a cesspit.
“Completely unacceptable. Underneath the inclusivity facade, Glastonbury has become a hate fest.”
Following the performance, it was confirmed that the BBC would not put the performance on iPlayer.
A spokesperson for the corporation said: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
