After outspoken Glastonbury performances, Bob Vylan and Kneecap face U.K. criminal investigation

After respective acts astatine the U.K. festival Glastonbury led chants successful enactment of Palestinian state and denouncing the Israel Defense Forces, U.K. constabulary opened a transgression probe into their performances.

Several outlets including the BBC cited a connection from Avon and Somerset constabulary successful the U.K. announcing an enquiry into sets by the rap-punk radical Bob Vylan and the Northern Irish rap radical Kneecap.

During Bob Vylan’s set, the band’s vocalist Bobby Vylan (born Pascal Robinson-Foster) led Glastonbury crowds successful chants of some “free, escaped Palestine” and, much controversially, “death, decease to the IDF.”

Though constabulary did not mention circumstantial actions that were being investigated, “This has been recorded arsenic a nationalist bid incidental astatine this clip portion our enquiries are astatine an aboriginal stage,” the connection read. “The probe volition beryllium evidence-led and volition intimately see each due legislation, including relating to hatred crimes.”

The BBC, which broadcast Bob Vylan’s set, said successful a connection that “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and person nary spot connected our airwaves.” The web added that it “respects state of look but stands firmly against incitement to violence.” Glastonbury’s organizers said successful a connection that they were “appalled” by Vylan’s comments, which they said “crossed a line.”

The U.S. State Department besides announced that the 2 members of Bob Vylan would person their U.S. visas revoked. “Foreigners who glorify unit and hatred are not invited visitors to our country,” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said connected societal media.

The BBC did not broadcast the Glastonbury acceptable from the acclaimed Belfast rap trio Kneecap, which has attracted worldwide attraction for its outspoken disapproval of Israel’s warfare connected Gaza, including astatine its caller Coachella sets.

Kneecap alternatively reportedly roused the assemblage successful a profane chant against U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had criticized their booking astatine the festival aft the group’s Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs arsenic Mo Chara, was charged with supporting a proscribed enactment for allegedly waving a emblem from the panic radical Hezbollah astatine a London performance successful 2024 (Chara denied the charge).

U.K. prosecutors, citing clip limits, precocious dropped charges against the radical aft a 2023 performance wherever Chara allegedly said, “The lone bully Tory is simply a dormant Tory. Kill your section MP.”

After the performance, endowment bureau UTA reportedly dropped Bob Vylan from its roster. Singer Bobby Vylan stood by his comments, penning connected societal media that “Teaching our children to talk up for the alteration they privation and request is the lone mode that we marque this satellite a amended place.”