State Department Blocks Rap Duo Bob Vylan From Entering U.S. After “Death To IDF” Chant Onstage
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British rap duo Bob Vylan have had their U.S. visas revoked after a controversial performance at Glastonbury Festival over the weekend.
The State Department has confirmed both members’ visas have been canceled, meaning they will no longer be able to tour with American singer Grandson later this year.
This comes after a controversial performance in England saw one member of the punk-rap band, who goes by Bobby Vylan, lead a crowd in chanting, “Death, death to the IDF.”
Highlights
- Bob Vylan's U.S. visas were revoked after they chanted 'Death to the IDF' during their Glastonbury set, blocking their U.S. tour with Grandson.
- The State Dept. called their performance a 'hateful tirade,' emphasizing no tolerance for foreigners who glorify violence or hatred in the U.S.
- BBC apologized for livestreaming the controversial chant, admitting they should have cut the stream during Bob Vylan's set.
- Festival organizers condemned the chants as crossing a line, affirming zero tolerance for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement at Glastonbury.
- UK police launched a criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s sets, treating the matter as a potential hate crime incident.
Bob Vylan have had their U.S. visas revoked after chanting ‘Death to the IDF’
Image credits: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
The IDF is the Israel Defense Forces.
During the set, the same member also chanted, “Free, free Palestine,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
In a post on X, State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau described the duo’s performance as a “hateful tirade.”
“The @StateDept has revoked the U.S. visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants,” he said.
“Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
The set was live-streamed on the BBC, which has since apologized for not pulling the stream after being questioned by the UK Government.
“The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance,” a BBC statement said. “We regret this did not happen.”
Organizers of the festival have said the “death to the IDF” chants crossed a line.
“Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,” a statement read.
The duo, formed in 2017, have been dropped by their talent agency UTA,
Police have also confirmed a criminal investigation has been opened into Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s performances.
“This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage,” Avon and Somerset Police said.
“The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes."
Police in the UK are investigating Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s performances
Image credits: Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images
“We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognize the strength of public feeling. There is absolutely no place in society for hate.”
Before the festival, the BBC had announced it would not live-stream Kneecap, an Irish hip-hop trio, but would make an edited version of their performance available later on iPlayer.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had called for the band to be dropped from the festival after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offense.
Image credits: Ki Price/WireImage
It is alleged he displayed a flag representing Hezbollah at a gig last year, which he denies.
Kneecap says the charges are political persecution tied to their views on Palestine. They have accused Israel of committing genocide, and the UK and the U.S. of enabling it.
Throughout their set, which came directly after Bob Vylan’s performance, the band chanted, “F**k Keir Starmer” after playing an opening video that showed people criticizing the band.
Bobby Vylan responded to the intense backlash by posting a statement on Instagram, captioned: “I said what I said.”
Throughout the statement, he used his daughter as an example, citing how she was providing feedback to her school on meal selection.
“Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place,” he wrote.
In a statement released today, Bob Vylan said silence was not an option and that they were being targeted for speaking up, much like Kneecap and Palestine Action, which is proscribed as a terror group by the UK government.
“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. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessarily lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza,” the statement reads.
“We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story, and whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.
“The government doesn’t want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?
“The more time they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction. We are being targeted for speaking up.
“We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up, too.”