London punk rap duo Bob Vylan have launched a statement responding to the extreme backlash from their controversial performance at Glastonbury 2025 this previous weekend, which has resulted in a criminal investigation from UK police.
Of their assertion, the band clarified they aren’t calling for the demise of any “race or group of individuals,” however reasonably for the “dismantling of a violent army machine.” They described the federal government’s response as a “distraction” from the unnecessary killings in Gaza and mentioned they’re being “focused for talking up.”
“At the moment, a great many individuals would have you ever consider a punk band is the primary menace to world peace,” the assertion begins. “We aren’t for the demise of Jews, Arabs, or every other race or group of individuals. We’re for the dismantling of a violent army machine. A machine whose personal troopers had been advised to make use of ‘pointless deadly drive’ towards harmless civilians ready for support. A machine that has destroyed a lot of Gaza.”
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The notice continues, “We’re a distraction from the story. And no matter sanctions we obtain might be a distraction. The federal government doesn’t need us to ask why they continue to be silent within the face of this atrocity. To ask why they aren’t doing extra to cease the killing? To feed the ravenous?”
“The extra time they discuss Bob Vylan, the much less time they spend answering for his or her legal inaction,” the assertion concludes. “We’re being focused for talking up. We aren’t the primary. We is not going to be the final. And if you take care of the sanctity of human freedom of speech, we urge you to talk up, too. Free Palestine.”
Throughout Bob Vylan’s set on Saturday, frontman Bobby Vylan led chants of “Free Palestine” and “Dying to the IDF.” Additionally they displayed a message on the display screen behind them that learn, “Free Palestine. United Nations have referred to as it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘battle.’”
The efficiency was swiftly condemned by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Glastonbury organizer Emily Eavis, and the BBC, which aired Bob Vylan’s efficiency. Starmer characterised their message as “appalling hate speech,” whereas Eavis mentioned, “There isn’t any place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.” BBC added, “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan had been totally unacceptable and haven’t any place on our airwaves.”
On Monday, June thirtieth, the Trump administration revoked Bob Vylan’s US visas, citing their “hateful tirade at Glastonbury, together with main the gang in demise chants.”
Later that day, the UK police confirmed they’d launched a legal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap. The latter group led the crowd in chants of “Fuck [UK Prime Minister] Keir Starmer” and “Free, free Palestine” throughout their very own set.
