Glastonbury Fallout: Police Launch Criminal Probe into Bob Vylan, Kneecap Sets; US Visas Revoked Amid Controversy

Avon and Somerset Police have launched a criminal investigation into the performances of punk-rap duo Bob Vylan and Irish-language rap band Kneecap at Glastonbury on Saturday, following controversial comments made on stage. The probe comes as Bob Vylan’s US visas have reportedly been revoked, with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stating, “Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”

The investigation was initiated after a review of footage, with authorities appointing a senior detective to assess if any remarks constituted a criminal offence. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy condemned the scenes broadcast by the BBC as “appalling and unacceptable” in Parliament on Monday, calling for immediate answers from the broadcaster regarding its live coverage decisions.

Bob Vylan’s set drew significant criticism when singer Pascal Robinson-Foster (Bobby Vylan) led a chant of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]”. The BBC later acknowledged it should have cut away from the live broadcast and announced a review of its guidance for live events. Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, also indicated the BBC had “questions to answer.”

Glastonbury organisers previously expressed being “appalled” by the comments. On Sunday, Robinson-Foster defended his stance on Instagram, and on Monday, released a video statement asserting that “calling for an end to the slaughter of innocents is never wrong,” while also addressing politicians.

Kneecap’s performance is also under scrutiny, though not live-streamed by the BBC, an unedited version was later uploaded to iPlayer. The band is known for pro-Palestinian and political commentary, with member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh currently facing a terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a prior gig, which he denies.

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