Bob Vylan gig cancelled after controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s death

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Rap duo Bob Vylan’s Netherlands concert has been cancelled after they made comments on stage about the assasination of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk.

On Wednesday, the public speaker was shot and killed in what authorities have declared a political assassination. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was hosting a Q&A at Utah Valley University at the time.

Kirk’s death has sparked fierce debate online due to the divisive nature of his beliefs, as he frequently expressed conservative views on topics such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, gun control, and immigration.

As such, while performing at a gig in the Netherlands this weekend, Bob Vylan, which comprises Bobby and Bobbie Vylan, took the chance to say how they felt about him.

However, critics have slammed the musicians, who gained national attention at Glastonbury with ‘death to the IDF’ chants, for celebrating Kirk’s demise.

Bobby – real name Pascal Robinson-Foster – told the crowd at Amsterdam’s Paradiso before a song: ‘I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of s**t of a human being.’

Punk duo Bob Vylan appeared to celebrate the death of Charlie Kirk during their latest gig (Picture: Lauren Del Fabbro/PA Wire)

‘The pronouns was/were. Because if you talk s**t, you will get banged,’ he declared.

‘Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk, you piece of s**t.’

A smiling Bobby proceeded to jump up and down as the next tune began, the audience going wild with cheers.

Now their planned performance on Tuesday September 16 at the 013 in Tilburg has been cancelled, with the venue saying the statements made by the performer ‘go too far’.

A translated statement on the 013 website on Sunday said: ‘The planned performance by British rap-punk group Bob Vylan on Tuesday, September 16th, at Poppodium 013 in Tilburg has been cancelled.

‘The reason for the cancellation is the controversial statements the artist made last night during a show at Paradiso in Amsterdam.

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‘Paradiso believes in the power of artistic freedom. Music, and punk in particular, has traditionally been a form of art that amplifies anger, discontent, and injustice without filter.

‘In a world on fire, artists sometimes choose language that sounds confrontational or violent. That is part of artistic expression, but not automatically language that we as a venue endorse.

‘Paradiso shares the outrage and concern regarding the genocidal violence taking place in Gaza.

‘That Bob Vylan raises his voice against it is legitimate and necessary. Should the Openbaar Ministerie (public prosecution service) wish to investigate whether any criminal offences have been committed, Paradiso will cooperate.’

After reports that his comments ‘celebrated’ Kirk’s death, Bobby Vylan said in an Instagram video: ‘At no point during yesterday’s show was Charlie Kirk’s death celebrated. At no point whatsoever did we celebrate Charlie Kirk’s death.’

Footage of the moment quickly began circulating online, garnering over 1.5million views on X alone. In the replies, some users tagged the Metropolitan Police, accusing Bobby of ‘inciting violence’.

Among critics was Piers Morgan, who wrote: ‘This is so disgusting, from Vylan and the crowd. Imagine so gleefully cheering the assassination of a man just for having opinions you don’t like?’

@Lord_Dylly added: ‘And even more sickening is the crowd reaction. Why is the world like this?’

The MAGA supporter was shot and killed on Wednesday (Picture: AP) Bob Vylan came under fire in June for their ‘death to the IDF’ chants at Glastonbury (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

@Melb0urne__82 replied with an image with the words: ‘If you’re celebrating someone getting shot because they said words you don’t like, you’re the problem.’

@RichWr4u also deemed the remarks ‘unacceptable’, while others stated Bob Vylan are ‘not welcome’ in America. Earlier this year, the State Department banned the pair from performing in the US.

Bob Vylan took to Instagram after the show with a video of a pro-Palestine outside the venue.

The duo typically performs with Palestinian flags on stage with them, having been vocal since the war began and aptly naming their tour the Won’t Go Quietly Tour.

Meanwhile, Kirk, who was an ally of President Donald Trump, has been mourned in vigils around the world by hundreds of his supporters.

A vigil was held in central London on Saturday, with speakers hailing him as a ‘Christian martyr’ and calling for people to wage a ‘war on evil’.

Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA, split opinion with his views on matters such as immigration, women’s rights, and gun violence (Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)