Bob Vylan, the London punk-rap duo whose members go by Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan, were at the center of controversy last summer after leading a "Death to the IDF!" chant at the UK's premier music festival, Glastonbury, in protest of Israel's genocidal war crimes in Palestine. At the time, the BBC, which livestreamed the festival, described the chant as "deeply offensive" and refused to make Bob Vylan's set viewable on demand.
Bob Vylan faced extensive fallout after Glastonbury. They were dropped from festival lineups and a tour with Gogol Bordello. The US State Department canceled their visas. The duo have also pushed back against the media's characterizations of their stance. They sued the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ for defamation for describing their Glastonbury chants as "anti-Semitic" and got an apology from a Manchester newspaper that quoted a false allegation that they've performed Nazi salutes onstage. Now they're setting their sights on the BBC.
In a message posted on their social media accounts today, Bob Vylan say they're suing the BBC for "placing labels upon us that did not, do not and never will fit." Here's their full statement:
We have decided to take legal action against the BBC. In the immediate aftermath of our performance at Glastonbury 2025, The BBC wasted no time in placing labels upon us that did not, do not and never will fit.
As a corporation that receives the majority of its funding from the public, it has disappointingly continued to prove how little it represents the interests of the people and our access to unbiased news and information.
The BBC have attempted to silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine, instead labelling them as anti-semitic, editing their speeches, removing their content and even blocking the release of documentaries that challenge the desired narrative of The BBC and its top brass.
These responses are unacceptable. So seeing the opportunity to remind them the power of the people that they are attempting to silence, we had no choice but to take on this fight. In fact, we take great pleasure in serving them that reminder in court.
Free Palestine and Justice for the Filton 25.
The Filton 25 are a group of UK activists who are awaiting trial for their actions in protest of Israel's military campaign in Palestine. Bob Vylan's latest release is "Light Up," a collaboration with the Australian hip-hop duo Hermitude.
