BBC apologises to Jewish community over Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance
Corporation pledges ‘accountability’ and overhauls music coverage after airing antisemitic chant live on iPlayer
The BBC has issued a formal apology to the Jewish community over its decision to broadcast a Glastonbury performance in which rapper Bob Vylan led crowds in a chant of “death to the IDF”, admitting that “errors were made” and promising urgent reforms to its live music protocols.
Director-General Tim Davie said he “deeply regrets” the incident and offered an unreserved apology “to our audience and to all of you, but in particular to Jewish colleagues and the Jewish community”. He added that “there can be no place for antisemitism at the BBC” and vowed to ensure the broadcaster becomes “a role model for inclusivity and tolerance”.
The controversial set, performed on the West Holts stage last Saturday, was streamed live and unedited on BBC iPlayer. It included chants widely condemned as antisemitic, such as “death, death, death to the IDF”, as well as “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, inshallah” – a slogan seen by many as calling for the elimination of the State of Israel.
In a lengthy statement released Wednesday, the BBC admitted it had failed in both its advance risk assessment and its live response. Bob Vylan was one of seven acts categorised as “high risk” by the BBC’s compliance team before the festival.
While it was agreed that risks could be mitigated in real time using warnings, the performance was allowed to proceed without a broadcast delay. Although on-screen warnings were issued twice during the set, the editorial team opted not to cut the livestream – a decision the corporation now concedes was “an error”.
Davie, who was present at Glastonbury on the day, instructed the team to ensure the set was removed from all future coverage. The performance is no longer available on iPlayer or BBC Sounds. However, the live feed showing subsequent acts remained visible until after 8pm while technical teams worked to implement a solution.
BBC Chair Samir Shah also apologised, saying: “We allowed the ‘artist’ Bob Vylan to express unconscionable antisemitic views live on the BBC. This was unquestionably an error of judgement.” He said the Board met on Tuesday to review the actions taken and expressed support for Davie and the executive team in pursuing accountability.
The broadcaster confirmed it is now implementing immediate changes to its approach. Music performances deemed high risk will no longer be broadcast live or streamed in real time, and BBC Editorial Policy staff will now be stationed on site at major festivals to monitor compliance. Updated internal guidance will also be issued to clarify when to withdraw a live stream.
The incident remains under review by Avon and Somerset Police, who confirmed they are assessing footage from multiple performances on the same stage, including a separate set by Irish group Kneecap in which a band member appeared to encourage supporters to “riot” outside court.
Jewish leaders and campaigners have sharply criticised the BBC for allowing the performance to air in the first place, warning that it risked amplifying antisemitic incitement. The Israeli Embassy described Bob Vylan’s chant as “inflammatory and hateful”, adding that it “advocates for the dismantling of the State of Israel”.
The BBC has not confirmed whether disciplinary action will be taken against those involved in the broadcast but said a process is underway to ensure “proper accountability”.
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