- US To Revoke Visas For Glastonbury Band Over Anti-Israel Chant.
- Keir Starmer condemns their Glastonbury performance as “appalling hate speech.”
- BBC apologizes for not stopping the live broadcast immediately.
The United States on Monday announced the revocation of visas issued to members of British punk-rap group Bob Vylan following the band’s controversial chant at the Glastonbury Festival that called for the death of the Israeli military.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the decision, stating that the revocation was in direct response to what he described as a “hateful tirade” led by the band at the festival.
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“We have revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants,” Landau posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” he added.
The administration of President Donald Trump has consistently taken a hard stance on anti-Israel activism, previously revoking visas, especially those of foreign students, linked to such activities.
Bob Vylan, a London-based duo known for blending punk rock with hip-hop and for addressing issues like racism in their lyrics, came under fire after leading a chant of “Death to the IDF” during their Glastonbury performance. IDF refers to the Israel Defense Forces.
The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer swiftly condemned the band’s action, describing it as “appalling hate speech.” The BBC also issued an apology for not immediately stopping the live broadcast of the performance.
This controversy follows an earlier dispute involving another politically outspoken group, Belfast-based hip-hop act Kneecap, who openly criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza during their April performance at the Coachella Festival in California.
Despite mounting pressure, including from Prime Minister Starmer, Glastonbury organizers refused to remove Kneecap from the festival lineup. However, the BBC opted not to stream their performance.
Both Bob Vylan and Kneecap had scheduled performance dates in the United States later this year, which are now uncertain following the US government’s action.
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