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A punk-rap duo from the United Kingdom caused controversy by proclaiming “Death to the IDF” and “Free Palestine” during their performance at the Glastonbury Festival, leading to criticism from both political and festival authorities.
Bob Vylan, a London-based duo, describes their music style as the “prettiest punk/rap/alt thing you’ll ever meet” on X. Their repertoire includes tracks such as “We Live Here,” “Dream Bigger,” “Makes Me Violent,” and “Terms & Conditions,” combining elements of rap and punk in their music.
The duo delivered a spirited performance at the Glastonbury Festival, where the lead singer utilized the platform to voice anti-Israel sentiments, transforming their set into a political statement.
While holding the microphone, singer Bobby Vylan shouted, “Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces],” several times before turning the microphone toward the crowd to get attendees to repeat the chant. The IDF is the national military of Israel. Videos from the crowd’s view showed several Palestinian flags waving as the performer and attendees shouted back and forth.
Bobby Vylan of Bob Vylan crowdsurfs in front of the West Holts stage during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton, on June 28, 2025, in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
“As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism. We will always believe in – and actively campaign for – hope, unity, peace and love,” the statement read. “With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.
“However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday,” the statement continued. “Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
Another group, Kneecap, also performed on Saturday despite a terror charge for one of its members over allegedly supporting Hezbollah. During the performance, Kneecap led a huge crowd in chants of “Free Palestine.”
Famously known as Britain’s biggest summer music festival, Glastonbury draws a crowd of nearly 200,000 music fans every year to Worthy Farm in southwest England. About 4,000 acts perform during the festival on 120 stages.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
