TRNSMT act Wet Leg says Kneecap and Bob Vylan Glastonbury reaction is 'messed up'
TRNSMT 2025 act and Wet Leg singer Rhian Teasdale says she feels the reaction to Kneecap and Bob Vylan's sets at Glastonbury Festival is "messed up".
The indie rocker's band played on Friday afternoon at the festival, where Bob Vylan and Kneecap's Saturday sets are being investigated by Avon and Somerset Police to decide whether any offences were committed.
Bobby Vylan, of Bob Vylan, led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of " death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)", before a member of Irish rap trio Kneecap joked that fans should "start a riot" outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance, and led the crowd on chants of "f*** Keir Starmer".
Teasdale, who will perform in Glasgow Green on Friday, July 11, told PA News Agency she was concerned by the fallout from their sets, and added she feels it is "powerful" for artists to speak up.
The singer told PA: "It shouldn't have to be considered brave to call out a genocide — that should be the absolute bare minimum.
"But the fact that people are being punished, silenced, or villainised for doing so shows just how messed up things are. I don't think it's brave to speak out — I think it's necessary.
"What's scary is how dangerous or controversial that's being made to seem. The media has focused so much on bands like Bob Vylan and Kneecap, but they weren't the only ones speaking out.
"Every other artist showed support for Palestine across the weekend. So why are these two being singled out? It feels like a deliberate attempt to create scapegoats, to distract from the actual message - which is simply calling out a genocide."
Kneecap were pulled from the TRNSMT line-up with Police Scotland citing "safety concerns". The force previously said the performance, due to take place on July 11, would require "a significant policing operation".
Kneecap said they had played in Glasgow "many times with no issues - ever," adding: "Make of that what you will".
The trio made up of Liam Og O Hannaigh (Mo Chara), JJ Ó Dochartaigh (aDJ Provai) and Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap), are playing Glasgow's O2 Academy on Tuesday, July 8 instead.
Last month, Mo Chara was released on bail after facing criminal charges for allegedly supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation. He is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year.
Teasdale went on: "Coming out of the Glastonbury bubble and seeing how much of that pro-Palestine messaging was cut from the BBC footage was honestly chilling. It shows how reality can be edited, distorted.
"That level of control over public perception feels dystopian, and it's exactly why speaking out, even imperfectly, is so important right now."
Bob Vylan's set at the festival, which was livestreamed at the time, is not available on iPlayer, and after the festival the BBC said it would no longer livestream acts it deems "high risk".
Other acts to show their support for Palestine across the weekend included Wolf Alice, CMAT, and Gurriers.
Teasdale says she wants to "do better" at speaking up about important issues.
"Speaking about Palestine on stage isn't something I take lightly... but I do feel a huge responsibility to get it right," she went on.
'I don't want to dilute the message or speak over the people whose voices actually need to be heard. That tension can make it hard to know exactly what to say, but the alternative - saying nothing - isn't acceptable either.'
Punk duo Bob Vylan issued a statement on Tuesday claiming they were being "targeted for speaking up".
The pair have also had their US visas revoked before their tour later this year, were pulled from their Saturday headline slot at Radar festival in Manchester, and from an upcoming performance at a German music venue.
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