Bob Vylan and Kneecap face criminal probe as BBC Glastonbury coverage criticised
Kneecap and Bob Vylan are facing criminal police investigations for their performances at Glastonbury Festival as US authorities confirmed the latter group have been banned from entering the country.
The BBC also expressed regret at not pulling its livestream of Bob Vylan's 'unacceptable' set, with the Culture Secretary claiming the issue should have been foreseeable and constituted 'a problem of leadership' for the broadcaster.
Bobby Vylan, one half of the British rap punk duo, led crowds at the festival's West Holts Stage on Saturday in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'.
In their own set on the stage directly afterwards, Irish rap trio Kneecap similarly led chants of 'Free Palestine' while member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who appeared in court earlier this month charged with a terror offence, wore a keffiyeh during the performance.
Fellow member JJ O Dochartaigh also wore a T-shirt that said: 'We are all Palestine Action' in reference to the soon-to-be-banned campaign group.
Avon and Somerset Police said they had launched a probe on Monday into both performances at the festival after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with a senior detective appointed to lead it.
A police spokesman said: 'This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage.
'The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.'
US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau announced that Bob Vylan's US visas had been revoked due to 'their hateful tirade at Glastonbury', with the duo scheduled to tour in Chicago, Brooklyn and Philadelphia in October.
The BBC has faced strong criticism for continuing to livestream their performance on iPlayer with on-screen warnings about discriminatory language, leading to broadcasting regulator Ofcom saying it was 'very concerned' by the decision.
In a statement on Monday, the BBC said: '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.
'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.
'We welcome Glastonbury's condemnation of the performance.
'The performance was part of a livestream of the West Holts stage on BBC iPlayer.
'The judgment on Saturday to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines.
'In addition, we took the decision not to make the performance available on demand.
'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.'
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the Government was 'exasperated' with the 'lack of account from the leadership' at the BBC during a statement to the Commons on Monday.
Addressing a point from Jim Allister, TUV MP for North Antrim, that the livestream was 'an appalling pro-terrorist broadcast', Ms Nandy said: 'He will know that this Government supports the BBC.
'We believe it is an important institution.
'That is why we are so disappointed that this has happened, why we have been so exasperated with the lack of account from the leadership, not just about this, but about a previous Gaza documentary and a number of other issues as well.
'The BBC is one of the most important institutions in our country, and that is the reason why it is held to the highest of standards.'
Ms Nandy said the incident had raised 'very, very serious questions at the highest levels of the BBC about the operational oversight and the way in which editorial standards are understood', adding that she wanted to see 'rapid action' from the broadcaster.
Glastonbury Festival itself also condemned Bob Vylan's chants, saying it was 'appalled' by what was said on stage.
A statement on Instagram said: '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.'
Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class.
Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Vylan said: '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.
'As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly 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.'
Kneecap have been in the headlines after member O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.
In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain told Glastonbury they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
40 minutes ago
- The Hill
Starmer faces down a revolt over welfare reform after a troubled first year in office
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer marks a year in office this week, fighting a rebellion from his own party over welfare reform and reckoning with a sluggish economy and rock-bottom approval ratings. It's a long way from the landslide election victory he won on July 4, 2024, when Starmer's center-left Labour Party took 412 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons to end 14 years of Conservative government. In the last 12 months Starmer has navigated the rapids of a turbulent world, winning praise for rallying international support for Ukraine and persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to sign a trade deal easing tariffs on U.K. goods. But at home his agenda has run onto the rocks as he struggles to convince British voters — and his own party — that his government is delivering the change that it promised. Inflation remains stubbornly high and economic growth low, frustrating efforts to ease the cost of living. Starmer's personal approval ratings are approaching those of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, who lasted just 49 days in office in 2022 after her tax-cutting budget roiled the economy. John Curtice, a political scientist at the University of Strathclyde, said Starmer has had 'the worst start for any newly elected prime minister.' On Tuesday, Starmer faces a vote in Parliament on welfare spending after watering down planned cuts to disability benefits that caused consternation from Labour lawmakers. Many balked at plans to raise the threshold for the payments by requiring a more severe physical or mental disability, a move the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank estimated would cut the income of 3.2 million people by 2030. After more than 120 Labour lawmakers said they would vote against the bill, the government offered concessions, including a guarantee that no one currently getting benefits will be affected by the change. It pledged to consult with disability groups about the changes, and do more to help sick and disabled people find jobs. Some rebels said they would back the bill after the concessions, but others maintained their opposition. The welfare U-turn is the third time in a few weeks that the government has reversed course on a policy under pressure. In May, it dropped a plan to end winter home heating subsidies for millions of retirees. Last week, Starmer announced a national inquiry into organized child sexual abuse, something he was pressured to do by opposition politicians — and Elon Musk. 'It's a failure of leadership for a prime minister with such a big majority to not be able to get their agenda through,' said Rob Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester. 'I can't think of many examples of a prime minister in postwar politics suffering such a big setback when presiding over such a strong position in the Commons.' It also makes it harder for the government to find money to invest in public services without raising taxes. The government estimated the welfare reforms would save 5 billion pounds ($7 billion) a year from a welfare bill that has ballooned since the COVID-19 pandemic. After the concessions, it's only likely to save about half that amount. The government argues that it has achieved much in its first year: It has raised the minimum wage, strengthened workers' rights, launched new social housing projects and pumped money into the state-funded health system. But it has also raised taxes for employers and farmers, as well as squeezing benefits, blaming previous Conservative governments for the need to make tough choices. That downbeat argument has done little to make Starmer popular. In recent days Starmer has acknowledged mistakes. He told the Sunday Times that he was 'heavily focused on what was happening with NATO and the Middle East' while the welfare rebellion was brewing at home. 'I'd have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did — that's for sure,' he said. Starmer's struggles are all the more ignominious because the opposition Conservative Party had its worst-ever election result in 2024, reduced to only 121 lawmakers. But British politics is in unpredictable flux. A big chunk of Conservative support – and some of Labour's – shifted in this year's local elections to Reform U.K., a hard-right party led by veteran political pressure-cooker Nigel Farage. Reform has just five legislators in the House of Commons but regularly comes out on top in opinion polls, ahead of Labour and pushing the right-of-center Conservatives into third place. If the shift continues it could end a century of dominance by the two big parties. Starmer's key asset at the moment is time. He does not have to call an election until 2029. 'There's still plenty of time to turn things around,' Ford said. But he said the Labour lawmakers' rebellion 'will make things harder going forward, because it's not like this is the end of difficult decisions that he's going to have to make in government. 'Barring some magical unexpected economic boom … there's going to be a hell of a lot more fights to come,' he said.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Starmer faces down a revolt over welfare reform after a troubled first year in office
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer marks a year in office this week, fighting a rebellion from his own party over welfare reform and reckoning with a sluggish economy and rock-bottom approval ratings. It's a long way from the landslide election victory he won on July 4, 2024, when Starmer's center-left Labour Party took 412 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons to end 14 years of Conservative government. In the last 12 months Starmer has navigated the rapids of a turbulent world, winning praise for rallying international support for Ukraine and persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to sign a trade deal easing tariffs on U.K. goods. But at home his agenda has run onto the rocks as he struggles to convince British voters — and his own party — that his government is delivering the change that it promised. Inflation remains stubbornly high and economic growth low, frustrating efforts to ease the cost of living. Starmer's personal approval ratings are approaching those of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, who lasted just 49 days in office in 2022 after her tax-cutting budget roiled the economy. John Curtice, a political scientist at the University of Strathclyde, said Starmer has had 'the worst start for any newly elected prime minister.' Rebellion over welfare reform On Tuesday, Starmer faces a vote in Parliament on welfare spending after watering down planned cuts to disability benefits that caused consternation from Labour lawmakers. Many balked at plans to raise the threshold for the payments by requiring a more severe physical or mental disability, a move the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank estimated would cut the income of 3.2 million people by 2030. After more than 120 Labour lawmakers said they would vote against the bill, the government offered concessions, including a guarantee that no one currently getting benefits will be affected by the change. It pledged to consult with disability groups about the changes, and do more to help sick and disabled people find jobs. Some rebels said they would back the bill after the concessions, but others maintained their opposition. The welfare U-turn is the third time in a few weeks that the government has reversed course on a policy under pressure. In May, it dropped a plan to end winter home heating subsidies for millions of retirees. Last week, Starmer announced a national inquiry into organized child sexual abuse, something he was pressured to do by opposition politicians — and Elon Musk. 'It's a failure of leadership for a prime minister with such a big majority to not be able to get their agenda through,' said Rob Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester. 'I can't think of many examples of a prime minister in postwar politics suffering such a big setback when presiding over such a strong position in the Commons.' It also makes it harder for the government to find money to invest in public services without raising taxes. The government estimated the welfare reforms would save 5 billion pounds ($7 billion) a year from a welfare bill that has ballooned since the COVID-19 pandemic. After the concessions, it's only likely to save about half that amount. Starmer acknowledges errors The government argues that it has achieved much in its first year: It has raised the minimum wage, strengthened workers' rights, launched new social housing projects and pumped money into the state-funded health system. But it has also raised taxes for employers and farmers, as well as squeezing benefits, blaming previous Conservative governments for the need to make tough choices. That downbeat argument has done little to make Starmer popular. In recent days Starmer has acknowledged mistakes. He told the Sunday Times that he was 'heavily focused on what was happening with NATO and the Middle East' while the welfare rebellion was brewing at home. 'I'd have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did — that's for sure,' he said. UK politics is in flux Starmer's struggles are all the more ignominious because the opposition Conservative Party had its worst-ever election result in 2024, reduced to only 121 lawmakers. But British politics is in unpredictable flux. A big chunk of Conservative support – and some of Labour's – shifted in this year's local elections to Reform U.K., a hard-right party led by veteran political pressure-cooker Nigel Farage. Reform has just five legislators in the House of Commons but regularly comes out on top in opinion polls, ahead of Labour and pushing the right-of-center Conservatives into third place. If the shift continues it could end a century of dominance by the two big parties. Starmer's key asset at the moment is time. He does not have to call an election until 2029. 'There's still plenty of time to turn things around,' Ford said. But he said the Labour lawmakers' rebellion 'will make things harder going forward, because it's not like this is the end of difficult decisions that he's going to have to make in government. 'Barring some magical unexpected economic boom … there's going to be a hell of a lot more fights to come,' he said.
Hypebeast
4 hours ago
- Hypebeast
Nothing Is What It Seems in Maison Mihara Yasuhiro's "Ordinary People" Spring 2026 Collection
Summary Mastered byMaison Mihara Yasuhirois the skill of splicing – literally piecing together garments, eras, and silhouettes that might otherwise never comingle. The designer's Spring 2026 Paris runway was no exception, taking the art of fashioning the familiar and the fanciful, the past and the present, the 'high fashion' with the low, envisioning a Frankenstein'd, far-from-ordinary assortment of future-facing apparel and accessories. Entitled 'Ordinary People,' the designer's Spring 2026 range speaks to today's news cycle, particularly a commentary on that in Japan. 'In Japan, it doesn't take much to make the news,' he said after the show, perVogue Runway. 'Things like extramarital affairs and smoking scandals can become national stories, but in the world, there are wars, famines, and so much misery.' 'Nowadays, people tag people on social media. If you deviate from the norm, you get tagged,' he continued. 'So I made this for those people. It's a message to people who just want to live a normal life.' Blazers, suits, and overcoats are paired with sweatpants and cargo shorts on the bottom, while half-buttoned Oxford shirts hang loosely over basic tanks and graphic tees. Tuned into innovating the trompe l'oeil technique since early on, Maison Mihara Yasuhiro's Spring 2026 centerfold is its deceiving jacketing silhouettes. On many jackets – denim jackets, varsity jackets, and Sukajan bombers alike – the sleeves are split in half, simply hanging over the look rather than actually encasing the arm. Introduced about a fifth of the way through the runway, comes a collaboration with British-Indian artistNavinder Nangla, his infamous 'Fassion Weak' motif stamped alongside other misspelled tagging like 'Khaos' and different plays on 'Ordinary People.' 'Don't Tag Me' is another slogan that surfaces throughout the range, imprinted in the center of crewnecks and cardigans. As for accessories, models carry catch-all bags shaped like stuffed animals, totes filled with flowers, and don banana-chain necklaces. Explore Maison Mihara Yasuhiro's 'Ordinary People' Spring 2026 collection in the runway images above and stay tuned to Hypebeast for continuing coverage on Paris Fashion Week.
