A punk duo is below investigation within the U.Ok. and banned from performing within the U.S., after its singer led anti-Israeli navy chants throughout a BBC reside broadcast of the Glastonbury arts competition.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Glastonbury Music Pageant, one of many greatest on the earth, has change into the main target this 12 months of a political debate within the U.Ok. As NPR’s Fatima Al-Kassab reviews from London, the act on the middle of the controversy is below prison investigation.
FATIMA AL-KASSAB, BYLINE: Yearly, the BBC broadcasts Glastonbury Pageant reside to viewers watching at residence.
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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 reside by the BBC. Inside seconds, the broadcaster added an on-screen warning about very sturdy and discriminatory language. However prime 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 performed extra and that it regrets not pulling away from the livestream. In an announcement, the BBC mentioned what it referred to as the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan have been completely unacceptable. The broadcaster did, in truth, resolve to not air reside one other band referred to as Kneecap. It has been crucial of Israel prior to now, and the BBC this 12 months solely made out there 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: Nicely, I believed it was appalling, to be trustworthy, and I feel 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 have been attributable to carry out this 12 months. 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 doable hate crimes. Bobby Vylan shared an announcement on Instagram after his efficiency, the place he mentioned, instructing our youngsters to talk up for the change they need and want is the one manner 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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