Punk duo say they’re victims of censorship after calls to ban them over Glastonbury anti-IDF chant

Punk duo Bob Vylan say they are “being targeted for speaking up” after frontman Bobby Vylan’s explosive chant of “death, death to the IDF” during their Glastonbury performance sparked international outrage and a criminal investigation.

The chant, delivered on the West Holts stage on Saturday, was livestreamed by the BBC and left online for five hours. Since then, the group has been dropped from France’s Kave Fest and barred from entering the US, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau revoking their visas. UK police have now launched a public order investigation into the incident, saying they are “considering hate crime legislation.”

Posting a defiant statement on Instagram on Tuesday, the band denied antisemitism and claimed their chant targeted a military organisation, not a people.

“We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people,” they wrote. “We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine.”

They cited reports that Israeli forces were told to use “unnecessary lethal force” on civilians seeking aid, adding: “We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last.”

The group ended the post with a call to action: “Free Palestine.”

But the fallout has been severe. The UK’s Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, condemned the performance, calling it “a time of national shame.” In a blistering statement on X, Mirvis said: “Hateful rhetoric and glorification of violence should disturb our entire society.” He criticised the BBC’s handling of the livestream, accusing the national broadcaster of failing to treat antisemitism seriously.

Under mounting pressure, the BBC issued an apology on Monday, stating: “These were antisemitic sentiments that are unacceptable.” It admitted the livestream should have been pulled immediately and that the footage remained online for too long. Regulator Ofcom confirmed it had received over 150 complaints and said the BBC “clearly has questions to answer.”

Meanwhile, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed the performance is now the subject of an evidence-led investigation, with neighbourhood officers engaging with community groups amid growing public concern. “There is absolutely no place in society for hate,” a force spokesman said.

Backlash against Bob Vylan hasn’t stopped their scheduled appearances — yet. The duo is still listed to perform at Radar Festival in Manchester this Saturday and Boardmasters in Cornwall this August. But sources say other organisers are reconsidering.

Following the show, Bobby Vylan also posted a message encouraging youth activism: “As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim… it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch.”

The controversy taps into deeper tensions around speech, censorship, and public protest as war rages in Gaza. Supporters argue Bob Vylan’s chant was a harsh but legitimate political critique of Israeli military actions. Critics see it as a thinly veiled call for violence, indistinguishable from hate speech.

Legal experts note that prosecutions over public statements at music festivals are rare, but not unprecedented. Whether the chant meets the UK’s legal threshold for incitement or hate crime remains to be seen.

In the meantime, the punk duo are standing their ground — even as critics, governments, and broadcasters distance themselves. Their message is clear: they believe they’re being punished not for promoting hate, but for calling out what they see as global inaction in the face of war.