The BBC has acknowledged that the punk duo Bob Vylan was classified as high risk prior to their controversial performance at Glastonbury. During their set, which was live-streamed on iPlayer, the band led a chant calling for violence against the IDF (Israel Defence Forces). Following the incident, the BBC stated that it is taking steps to ensure accountability for those involved in the broadcast.
In the wake of the backlash, the BBC has temporarily reassigned several staff members from their day-to-day roles within the music and live events team. This decision came after criticism from high-profile figures, including the UK's chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, and scrutiny from the media regulator, Ofcom, which has posed questions about the BBC's handling of the situation.
On Thursday, BBC Director General Tim Davie expressed deep regret over the incident, describing the behavior exhibited during the performance as "offensive and deplorable." He issued an apology to viewers, particularly the Jewish community, acknowledging the distress caused by the broadcast.
The BBC explained that Bob Vylan was categorized as high risk after a thorough risk assessment process applied to all acts at Glastonbury. Although seven acts, including Bob Vylan, were deemed suitable for live streaming with certain mitigations, the corporation admitted that the necessary compliance measures were not effectively implemented.
The statement revealed that prior to the festival, it was decided that compliance risks could be managed in real-time during the live stream. This included using language or content warnings instead of implementing a broadcast delay. However, it was clear this approach failed during the performance.
Despite the monitoring of the live stream in accordance with compliance protocols, several issues arose that required escalation. Warnings appeared during the stream on two occasions, but the editorial team chose not to cut the feed, a decision the BBC later deemed an error.
Davie, who was present at Glastonbury that day, learned of the situation and instructed the team to ensure that none of the performance would be included in further coverage. Although steps were taken to prevent the set from being available on demand, the live feed remained accessible for several hours, allowing viewers to rewind and see the contentious content.
BBC Chair Samir Shah also issued an apology, emphasizing that the decision to allow Bob Vylan to express what he called "unconscionable anti-Semitic views" was a significant error in judgment. He highlighted that as soon as the issue was brought to Davie's attention, immediate steps were taken to mitigate the situation.
On the same day, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy addressed the House of Commons, pressing the BBC for clarity on their due diligence processes, senior oversight, and the delayed response in cutting the live feed. She underscored the serious impact this incident had on the Jewish community in the UK and called for accountability at the highest levels of the BBC.
Since the Glastonbury performance, Bob Vylan has faced significant repercussions, including the cancellation of several upcoming bookings at festivals in Manchester, France, and Germany. Furthermore, Avon and Somerset Police have launched a criminal investigation into the comments made during their set, while London's Metropolitan Police are also looking into statements made by the band during a concert at Alexandra Palace in May.
During their Glastonbury performance, lead singer Pascal Robinson-Foster, known as Bobby Vylan, referenced a former record label boss who had vocally supported Israel and called for the cancellation of another band's performance. In a subsequent Instagram statement, Bob Vylan clarified their position, stating, "We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine." They further asserted that their actions should not distract from the larger narrative at play.
