A punk duo is underneath 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 Competition, one of many greatest on the earth, has turn into the main target this yr of a political debate within the U.Okay. As NPR’s Fatima Al-Kassab stories from London, the act on the middle of the controversy is underneath felony investigation.
FATIMA AL-KASSAB, BYLINE: Yearly, the BBC broadcasts Glastonbury Competition 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 steer 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 rapidly 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 carried out extra and that it regrets not pulling away from the livestream. In a press release, the BBC mentioned what it known as the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan had been completely unacceptable. The broadcaster did, actually, determine to not air stay one other band known as Kneecap. It has been important of Israel up to now, and the BBC this yr solely made out there edited clips of Kneecap’s efficiency. Authorities Minister Wes Streeting was requested in regards to the Bob Vylan efficiency on Sunday morning.
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WES STREETING: Properly, I believed it was appalling, to be sincere, 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 will likely be no spectacles or reveals for Bob Vylan within the U.S. due to the incident. They had been as a consequence of 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 a press release {that a} felony investigation has now been launched over the Bob Vylan and Kneecap performances, together with for doable hate crimes. Bobby Vylan shared a press release on Instagram after his efficiency, the place he mentioned, educating our youngsters to talk up for the change they need and wish 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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