BBC music chief steps back amid Bob Vylan's anti-IDF chant fallout
- The BBC received backlash for streaming Bob Vylan's live performance at the Glastonbury Festival, during which they led the audience in anti-IDF chants.
- Following the incident, Lorna Clarke, the BBC's Director of Music, stepped back from her daily responsibilities.
- The situation has prompted the BBC to review its live streaming policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In the UK, controversy arose following a live performance by the British punk rap duo Bob Vylan at the Glastonbury Festival on June 28, 2025, where they led the audience in chanting anti-Israel statements, including 'Death to the IDF.' The BBC, responsible for streaming the event, faced significant backlash over this content. BBC Chairman Samir Shah issued a statement on July 3, acknowledging that the corporation had erred in allowing such statements to be broadcast and emphasized the need to uphold standards against antisemitism. Following the incident, it was reported that Lorna Clarke, the BBC's Director of Music, had stepped back from her day-to-day responsibilities as part of the organization’s response. The BBC indicated that senior staff members would be pulled back from their music coverage roles, and changes to their live streaming policy would also be implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The BBC expressed their commitment to ensuring that events deemed high risk would not be broadcast live or streamed, following a risk assessment that had identified Bob Vylan as one of seven 'high risk' acts for the festival. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the anti-IDF chants as forms of hate speech, characterizing them as completely unacceptable. The Glastonbury Festival organizers also responded to the behavior exhibited by Bob Vylan. In their joint statement, they expressed their dismay and reaffirmed their stance against antisemitism and hate speech, asserting that there is no tolerance for such messages at their event. Concerns surrounding the incident stemmed not only from the expression of violent sentiments but also from broader discussions about the implications of such language in the current geopolitical climate. The controversy around the performance further highlighted the increasing polarization related to discussions on Israel and Palestine, amplifying existing tensions surrounding music events and their political context.