Ofcom speaking to BBC ‘as a matter of urgency’ over Bob Vylan Glastonbury controversy
Ofcom are 'very concerned' about the performance.
Ofcom has said they are speaking to the BBC over Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, after they led the festival crowds in chants including ‘death to the IDF’.
On Saturday the English punk duo – which includes frontman Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan on drums – took to the festival’s West Holts Stage ahead of Kneecap.
During their set, they led festival-goers in chants calling for the end of the Israeli Defence Force and to ‘free, free Palestine’.
Soon after police said they were reviewing footage from the Worthy Farm performance to determine whether any offences had been committed.
Now the broadcasting regulator Ofcom has issued a statement on the BBC’s coverage of Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury.
‘We are very concerned about the live stream of this performance, and the BBC clearly has questions to answer,’ the statement began.
Ofcom has said they have been speaking to the BBC (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Up Next
Previous Page Next Page‘We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines.’
Ofcom’s involvement at this stage is an unusual move, given that the BBC has its own complaints process, which complainants must typically go through before they can be escalated to Ofcom.
The Ofcom guidance for BBC complaints states that it is only in ‘exceptional circumstances’ that Ofcom can circumvent the BBC’s complaints process.
Glastonbury 2025 - Latest news Glastonbury 2025 Sunday live: Olivia Rodrigo headlining final day after Kneecap and Bob Vylan chanting controversy Bob Vylan reacts after Glastonbury performance is probed by police alongside Kneecap I live-streamed Kneecap's Glastonbury set when the BBC wouldn't — here's why Why is there no Glastonbury in 2026? There’s a very good reasonTo get more of the latest news from Glastonbury Festival, visit Metro's dedicated page.
The example given on the Ofcom website for such circumstances is ‘if the BBC broadcast content involving potentially serious harm to the public’.
Avon and Somerset police shared a statement on social media after the performance, saying they were ‘aware of the comments’ from the West Holts Stage.
They added: ‘Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.’
Bobby Vylan’s frontman has doubled down on the comments (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images) Police confirmed they are reviewing footage of the performance (Picture: Dave J Hogan/ Getty Images)Bob Vylan frontman Bobby has since doubled down on the duo’s performance in spite of the backlash, posting a statement with the caption: ‘I said what I said.’
‘As I lay in bed this morning, my phone buzzing non-stop, inundated with messages of both support and hatred, I listen to my daughter typing out loud as she fills out a school survey asking her for feedback on the current state of her school dinners,’ he began.
‘She expressed that she would like healthier meals, more options and dishes inspired by other parts of the world.
‘Listening to her voice her opinions on a matter that she cares about and affects her daily reminds me that we may not be doomed after all. Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.
The BBC said their comments were ‘deeply offensive’ (Picture: Kieran Frost/ Redferns)‘As we grow older and our fire possibly starts to dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.
‘Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change. Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered. Today it is a change in school dinners, tomorrow it is a change in foreign policy.’
Meanwhile a spokesperson for the BBC said: ‘Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.
‘During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
