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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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On Monday, the U.S. State Department announced that it had revoked the visas of the British punk duo Bob Vylan following their controversial performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England over the weekend.
On Saturday, Bob Vylan led concertgoers in a chant of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces. The band's members go by the stage names Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan.
Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Christopher Landau posted on X, formerly Twitter, "The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country."
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Why It Matters
At Glastonbury, Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chants of "Free Palestine," followed by "Death to the IDF," which many interpreted as a call to violence. The remarks aired live on the BBC, sparking political condemnation and a formal investigation by British authorities.
Bob Vylan had been scheduled to tour 19 U.S. cities later this year as part of the Inertia Tour. That plan has now been canceled.
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What To Know
The duo's performance quickly drew condemnation from multiple governments and organizations. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the comments "appalling hate speech," and demanded that the BBC explain how such remarks were allowed to be broadcast.
The broadcaster has since removed the performance from its digital platforms and issued an apology, stating, "With hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance."
Festival co-organizer Emily Eavis said the duo "very much crossed a line," adding that Glastonbury has "no place" for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence. Police in Avon and Somerset confirmed Monday that they are reviewing footage from the performance, which is being treated as a public order incident.
Leo Terrell, chair of the Justice Department's Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, said in a statement that his office is working with the State Department "to deny entry into the United States of performers who incite violent antisemitic behavior." Terrell described the performance as "abhorrent" and "incompatible with civil society."
Texas Senator Ted Cruz reposted a video of the performance on X, writing: "Truly sick. Thousands of people screaming 'Death to the IDF.' This is the base of the Democrat Party."
Despite the backlash, Bobby Vylan defended the performance in an Instagram post. "I said what I said," he wrote. "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."
Who Is Bob Vylan?
Bob Vylan is a British punk and hip-hop group formed in 2017, consisting of vocalist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan. Known for provocative lyrics and outspoken political views, the band addresses topics including systemic racism, police brutality, and right-wing politics.
Why Kneecap Is Also Under Fire
Kneecap, an Irish-language rap group, is also facing backlash following its performance at Glastonbury. The trio took the stage immediately after Bob Vylan and joined in pro-Palestinian chants, including "Free Palestine" and "Free Mo Chara," a reference to group member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is currently facing terrorism charges in the U.K.
Ó hAnnaidh, who performs as Mo Chara, was charged under the Terrorism Act for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag during a concert in London in 2023. He has denied the charge and is out on unconditional bail pending a court hearing.
Kneecap's Glastonbury appearance also included a profanity-laced chant targeting Starmer, who had previously said the group's invitation to perform was "not appropriate."
Update 06/30/25, 1:34 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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