BBC Faces Backlash Over Broadcast of Chants at Glastonbury
Punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led chants of “death to the IDF” during their consecutive Glastonbury 2025 performances, which were broadcast live by the BBC. The chants have drawn significant public criticism amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza and have raised questions about the BBC’s editorial decisions, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy describing the incident as evidence of a “problem of leadership.”
The BBC has expressed regret for not stopping the live broadcast and is conducting an internal investigation, while police are reviewing whether the chants may have breached hate crime legislation. In a statement to Parliament on June 30, Nandy said the broadcast should have been halted immediately and cited a series of editorial failures.
The incident has reignited debate over freedom of expression versus incitement at cultural events and could influence how broadcasters approach politically sensitive content at future festivals.
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