Glastonbury acts Kneecap, Bob Vylan face U.Okay. felony investigation : NPR

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Leon Neal/Getty Pictures LONDON — The BBC and the annual Glastonbury Pageant of Up to date Performing Arts have come beneath criticism from the British prime minister and broadcasting regulator after a punk-rap band led chants towards the Israeli navy throughout a competition efficiency which was broadcast reside on Saturday afternoon.

British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan is now beneath a felony investigation within the U.Okay. after its lead singer, whose stage identify is Bobby Vylan (actual identify Pascal Robinson-Foster), led chants of "Loss of life, dying to the IDF" — referring to the Israeli navy — throughout a Glastonbury set.

The efficiency was streamed reside by the BBC on its iPlayer service. Inside seconds, the broadcaster added an on-screen warning for viewers about "very robust and discriminatory" language.

However prime politicians shortly criticized the broadcaster's choice to air the efficiency, together with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said that it contained "appalling hate speech" and that the BBC had "inquiries to reply."

<source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/400/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 400w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/600/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 600w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 800w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/900/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 900w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/1200/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 1200w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/1600/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 1600w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/1800/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 1800w" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg" sizes="(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/webp"/> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/400/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 400w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/600/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 600w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 800w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/900/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 900w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/1200/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 1200w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/1600/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 1600w, https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/1800/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg 1800w" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg" sizes="(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)" class="img" type="image/jpeg"/> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6480x4320+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbf%2Fd7%2Fa5c250324870b765d75bc3677fe9%2Fgettyimages-2221763275.jpg" class="img" alt="Irish rap band Kneecap perform at the Glastonbury festival on Saturday." loading="lazy"/> Irish rap band Kneecap carry out on the Glastonbury competition on Saturday. OLI SCARFF/AFP through Getty Pictures conceal caption

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OLI SCARFF/AFP through Getty Pictures One opposition lawmaker, Chris Philp, known as for the BBC to be prosecuted. The Conservative member of Parliament wrote on X, "By broadcasting his [Bobby Vylan's] vile hatred, the BBC seem to have additionally damaged the legislation… Our nationwide broadcaster shouldn't be transmitting hateful materials designed to incite violence and battle."

In a statement on Monday, the BBC stated it regretted not pulling away from the livestream. It stated, "The anti-semitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan have been totally unacceptable" and added that it "respects freedom of expression however stands firmly towards incitement to violence."

The broadcaster had already determined to not broadcast the Glastonbury efficiency of Irish-language hip-hop band Kneecap reside.

The band has been crucial of Israel up to now. This yr, the BBC solely made obtainable an edited model of Kneecap's efficiency, through which band members led chants towards Prime Minister Keir Starmer and reiterated assist for Palestinians within the Gaza Strip.

Starmer had beforehand said it was "not acceptable" for Kneecap to play Glastonbury, after one of many band members, Mo Chara, was charged with a terrorism offense , accused of holding up a flag in assist of Hezbollah at a London live performance.

Talking in Parliament on Monday, British Tradition Secretary Lisa Nandy stated there have been "appalling and unacceptable scenes at Glastonbury on Saturday," referring to Bob Vylan's set.

U.Okay. police say a felony investigation has now been launched over each the Bob Vylan and Kneecap performances. An announcement from the police pressure stated the investigation would look into whether or not feedback made by both act amounted to a felony offense, together with regarding hate crimes.

Bob Vylan was resulting from carry out within the U.S. later this yr. However the Glastonbury look could have repercussions for the band's tour plans. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X that the members of Bob Vylan would have their visas revoked, including, "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred usually are not welcome guests to our nation."

Glastonbury competition organizers say they're "appalled" by feedback made by Bob Vylan, which they stated "crossed a line."

Bobby Vylan shared a statement on Instagram after his efficiency, through which he stated, "Educating our kids to talk up for the change they need and wish is the one method that we make this world a greater place." Alongside the assertion was the caption: "I stated what I stated."