London punk rap duo Bob Vylan have released a statement responding to the intense backlash from their controversial performance at Glastonbury 2025 this past weekend, which has resulted in a criminal investigation from UK police.
In their statement, the band clarified they are not calling for the death of any “race or group of people,” but rather for the “dismantling of a violent military machine.” They described the government’s response as a “distraction” from the needless killings in Gaza and said they are being “targeted for speaking up.”
“Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace,” the statement begins. “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs, or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
Related Video
The note continues, “We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction. The government doesn’t want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity. To ask why they aren’t doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?”
“The more time they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction,” the statement concludes. “We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up, too. Free Palestine.”
During Bob Vylan’s set on Saturday, frontman Bobby Vylan led chants of “Free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF.” They also displayed a message on the screen behind them that read, “Free Palestine. United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict.’”
The performance was swiftly condemned by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Glastonbury organizer Emily Eavis, and the BBC, which aired Bob Vylan’s performance. Starmer characterized their message as “appalling hate speech,” while Eavis said, “There is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.” BBC added, “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.”
On Monday, June 30th, the Trump administration revoked Bob Vylan’s US visas, citing their “hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants.”
Later that day, the UK police confirmed they had launched a criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap. The latter group led the crowd in chants of “Fuck [UK Prime Minister] Keir Starmer” and “Free, free Palestine” during their own set.