Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury Debacle
On Saturday, the notoriously outspoken Bob Vylan took the stage at Glastonbury Festival and turned what was supposed to be a music fest into a full‑blown hot‑chili‑display of controversy. He shouted “free, free Palestine” and “death to the IDF,” a line that hit the BBC live feed like a skipped record.
UTA says “no comment” and pulls the plug
- United Talent Agency (UTA) has quietly frozen Vylan’s contract, wiping his band page from their website.
- In the hush‑hush style of corporate PR, the agency has refused to comment.
Law and order? Caught in a twist of “two‑tier justice”
Avon and Somerset Police warned that if they don’t step in to arrest Vylan, they’ll face an example of “two‑tier justice.” Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary demanded immediate prosecution, echoing the case of Lucy Connolly who spent 31 months behind bars for a single “racist” Instagram post.
It’s a call to treat Vylan the same way other figures—who’ve been convicted for hate speech—were dealt with: arrest, prosecution, and sentencing.
Controversy spreads beyond the stage
Ofcom is looking into BBC’s coverage. They claim the broadcast “clearly” needs to answer questions about editorial compliance. The BBC—one of the most trusted broadcasters—issued a statement saying:
“We respect freedom of expression but stand firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.”
They’ve already taken the step to ban the live stream from on‑demand availability, admitting that pulling the plug during the performance would have been better.
Vylan’s own words, a call for future fire‑brands
In an Instagram post, Vylan said: “Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want is the only way that we make this world a better place. It’s important to inspire future generations to keep that torch blazing.”
While the boycott and backlash from the UTA and law enforcement firms for Vylan’s hateful speeches are mounting, what’s clear is that Glastonbury fans will remember the night for its “Free, Free Palestine” chant— and the fresh lesson on the limits of the word “free” in the English language.
