Bob Vylan are suing the BBC for defamation, alleging the British broadcaster unjustly labeled them as antisemitic after a Glastonbury performance in which the hardcore rap duo led chants of “death to” the Israel Defense Forces.
The punk hip-hop duo announced the lawsuit Friday over social media, saying, “The BBC wasted no time in placing labels upon us that did not, do not and never will fit.”
Background on the Glastonbury Performance
At Glastonbury in June 2025, frontman Bobby Vylan roused the seemingly enthusiastic crowd with chants of “Free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF.” From the stage, he also told the audience, “Hell yeah, from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free.” Also during their set, the group displayed a message on a backdrop that read, “Free Palestine. United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict.’”
The BBC broadcast Bob Vylan’s set. After, the British network expressed deep regret for the broadcast, calling the duo’s behavior “offensive and deplorable” and apologizing to Jewish viewers. “We are also unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC,” the broadcaster said in a July 2025 statement.
Statement from Bob Vylan
“The BBC have attempted to silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine,” the duo said, “instead labelling them as anti-semitic, editing their speeches, removing their content and even blocking the release of documentaries that challenge the desired narrative of The BBC and its top brass.
“These responses are unacceptable. So seeing the opportunity to remind them of the power of the people that they are attempting to silence, we had no choice but to take on this fight. In fact, we take great pleasure in serving them that reminder in court.”
Consequences of the Glastonbury Set
In the wake of the Glastonbury set, British police investigated Bob Vylan, though no charges were filed, an action that the duo called government targeting for speaking up, and the U.S. State Department revoked the group’s visas.
Bob Vylan clarified after Glastonbury that their statements at the festival were not calling for the death of any “race or group of people,” but for the “dismantling of a violent military machine.”
In conclusion, Bob Vylan’s lawsuit against the BBC marks a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the duo’s Glastonbury performance. As the case unfolds, it will be important to follow the proceedings and the statements from both Bob Vylan and the BBC. The outcome of the lawsuit may have implications for freedom of speech and the responsibility of broadcasters to accurately represent the views and intentions of artists.
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