UK's chief rabbi says Bob Vylan Glastonbury chant was ‘vile Jew-hatred'

The Guardian

a day ago

The UK's chief rabbi has condemned the BBC's handling of Bob Vylan's Glastonbury festival performance, while also branding the group's actions as 'vile Jew-hatred'.
Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said the controversy around the British rap-punk duo's appearance at the Somerset festival was 'a time of national shame'.
Pascal Robinson-Foster, who goes by the name Bobby Vylan, led chants of 'Death, death to the IDF', referring to the Israel Defense Forces, and spoke of working for a 'fucking Zionist' during their show on the West Holts stage on Saturday.
The BBC has come under pressure for failing to pull the livestream of Bob Vylan's show, including from the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, Ofcom and the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy. The broadcaster has said the comments were 'deeply offensive'.
Writing on X, the chief rabbi said: 'This is a time of national shame. The airing of vile Jew-hatred at Glastonbury and the BBC's belated and mishandled response, brings confidence in our national broadcaster's ability to treat antisemitism seriously to a new low.
'It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it. Toxic Jew-hatred is a threat to our entire society.'
His is the latest voice to condemn the comments, which came ahead of Belfast trio Kneecap's appearance on the same lineup. Both bands are being investigated by Avon and Somerset police over remarks made during their concerts.
The prime minister's spokesperson said there was 'no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech, and the BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast'.
Bob Vylan, who had been due to tour America later this year, have had their US visas revoked. 'Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,' said Christopher Landau, the deputy secretary of state.
On Monday, the BBC said it should not have allowed the comments to be broadcast and would look to update its guidance around live events.
'Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC's output but one performance within our livestreams included comments that were deeply offensive,' it said. 'The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.
'The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.'
In response to the controversy, Robinson-Foster posted a statement on Instagram arguing his actions would teach younger people to 'speak up for the change they want'.
He added: 'As we grow older and our fire possibly starts to dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.
'Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change. Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered.'