A punk duo is below investigation within the U.Okay. and banned from performing within the U.S., after its singer led anti-Israeli army chants throughout a BBC stay broadcast of the Glastonbury arts competition.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Glastonbury Music Pageant, one of many greatest on this planet, has change into the main focus this yr of a political debate within the U.Okay. As NPR’s Fatima Al-Kassab experiences from London, the act on the heart of the controversy is below prison investigation.
FATIMA AL-KASSAB, BYLINE: Yearly, the BBC broadcasts Glastonbury Pageant stay to viewers watching at house.
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BOBBY VYLAN: Thanks very a lot, Glastonbury.
AL-KASSAB: British punk rap duo Bob Vylan took to the stage on Saturday afternoon. The lead singer, whose stage identify is Bobby Vylan, began like this…
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VYLAN: (Chanting) Free, free.
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: (Chanting) Palestine.
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VYLAN: (Chanting) Free, free.
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: (Chanting) Palestine.
VYLAN: (Chanting) Free, free.
AL-KASSAB: …And went on to guide chants of – demise, demise to the IDF – referring to the Israeli military, all streamed stay by the BBC. Inside seconds, the broadcaster added an on-screen warning about very robust and discriminatory language. However high politicians shortly criticized the choice to air the efficiency, together with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who mentioned that it contained appalling hate speech and that the BBC had inquiries to reply. Now the community says it ought to have accomplished extra and that it regrets not pulling away from the livestream. In an announcement, the BBC mentioned what it known as the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan have been completely unacceptable. The broadcaster did, in actual fact, determine to not air stay one other band known as Kneecap. It has been crucial of Israel up to now, and the BBC this yr solely made obtainable edited clips of Kneecap’s efficiency. Authorities Minister Wes Streeting was requested concerning the Bob Vylan efficiency on Sunday morning.
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WES STREETING: Effectively, I assumed it was appalling, to be trustworthy, and I believe the BBC and Glastonbury have gotten inquiries to reply about how we noticed such a spectacle on our screens.
AL-KASSAB: There shall be no spectacles or exhibits for Bob Vylan within the U.S. due to the incident. They have been attributable to carry out this yr. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X that the band would have their visas revoked. British police mentioned in an announcement {that a} prison investigation has now been launched over the Bob Vylan and Kneecap performances, together with for potential hate crimes. Bobby Vylan shared an announcement on Instagram after his efficiency, the place he mentioned, instructing our kids to talk up for the change they need and want is the one approach that we make this world a greater place, together with the caption, I mentioned what I mentioned. Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR Information, London.
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