Bob Vylan issue new statement as chief rabbi calls BBC airing anti-IDF chant 'national shame'

The main rabbi has described the BBC's effect to anti-IDF chanting astatine Glastonbury arsenic "belated and mishandled" - arsenic the punk-rap duo involved, Bob Vylan, said the UK authorities needed to speech astir its "criminal inaction".

Sir Ephraim Mirvis said "vile Jew-hatred" had been aired astatine the Somerset euphony festival and it was a "time of nationalist shame".

Confidence successful the BBC's "ability to dainty antisemitism seriously" has been brought to a "new low", helium said successful a station connected X, adding that "outright incitement to unit and hatred" appeared to beryllium acceptable if it was couched arsenic "edgy governmental commentary".

Ordinary radical had not lone failed to spot incitement "for what it is" but had cheered it, chanted it, and celebrated it, helium said. "Toxic Jew-hatred is simply a menace to our full society," helium added.

Bob Vylan, posting a caller connection connected Instagram connected Tuesday, said they were "not for the decease of Jews, Arabs oregon immoderate different contention oregon radical of people".

Rather, they were for the "dismantling of a convulsive subject machine" - the Israel Defence Forces.

Bob Vylan chanted "death to the IDF" astatine Glastonbury. As galore arsenic 95% of the IDF are thought to beryllium Jewish.

In their statement, the radical said they were a "distraction from the story" and that immoderate "sanctions" they received would besides beryllium a distraction.

Their US visas person been revoked and United Talent Agency, their US representatives, person dropped them.

Referring to the warfare successful Gaza, they claimed the UK authorities does not privation them to inquire "why they stay soundless successful the look of this atrocity", "why they aren't doing much to halt the killing" and "feed the starving".

They added: "The much clip they speech astir Bob Vylan, the little clip they walk answering for their transgression inaction.

"We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first, we volition not beryllium the last, and if you attraction for the sanctity of quality beingness and state of speech, we impulse you to talk up, too."

It has emerged that Tim Davie, the BBC's director-general, was astatine Glastonbury erstwhile the duo led chants of "Death to the IDF" which were broadcast live.

The premier minister's spokesman, asked if the PM had assurance successful Mr Davie, said Sir Keir Starmer had "confidence successful the BBC", adding: "The presumption of the director-general is simply a substance for the BBC's board."

Speaking successful the Commons, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said "accountability" was important and it was thing she had "impressed upon the BBC leadership".

She added: "When you person 1 editorial failure, it's thing that indispensable beryllium gripped. When you person several, it becomes a occupation of leadership."

The furniture curate said she'd called Mr Davie aft Bob Vylan's acceptable had been broadcast to find retired wherefore it had aired, and wherefore the provender had not been cut.

"I expect answers to these questions without delay," she said.

Meanwhile Dame Caroline Dinenage, seat of the culture, media and athletics committee, has written to Mr Davie successful narration to the corporation's Glastonbury coverage.

The committee has said the missive asks astir editorial and decision-making processes and whether information was fixed to broadcasting with a delay. It besides asks astir staffing levels astatine the festival and contingency planning.

Avon and Somerset Police has begun a transgression probe and is reviewing footage of some Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances astatine Glastonbury.

The unit said a elder detective had been appointed - and it had been contacted by radical from astir the world.

"We... recognise the spot of nationalist feeling," it said.

During Kneecap's set, 1 subordinate suggested starting a "riot" extracurricular his bandmate's forthcoming tribunal appearance, earlier clarifying that helium meant "support". Liam Og O hAnnaidh, besides known arsenic Mo Chara, is charged with a panic offence.

Bob Vylan had been owed to circuit the US earlier their visas were revoked.

US lawman caput of authorities Christopher Landau said enactment had been taken "in airy of their hateful tirade astatine Glastonbury, including starring the assemblage successful decease chants".

"Foreigners who glorify unit and hatred are not invited visitors to our country," helium added.

👉 Listen to Sky News Daily connected your podcast app 👈

During Bob Vylan's set, the duo performed successful beforehand of a surface that showed respective messages, including 1 that claimed Israel's actions successful Gaza amounted to "genocide".

The warfare successful Gaza began aft Hamas militants attacked Israel connected 7 October 2023 and killed 1,200 radical and took astir 250 hostage.

Israel's violative successful Gaza has led to the deaths of much than 56,500 people, according to the Hamas-run wellness ministry, which does not differentiate betwixt civilians and combatants.

Read much from Sky News:
Starmer faces rebellion astatine cardinal payment cuts vote
Trump piles much unit connected cardinal slope chief

Media watchdog Ofcom has said the BBC "clearly has questions to answer" implicit the unrecorded watercourse from Glastonbury.

A BBC spokesperson said: "The director-general was informed of the incidental aft the show and astatine that constituent helium was wide it should not diagnostic successful immoderate different Glastonbury coverage."

The broadcaster respects state of look but "stands firmly against incitement to violence", they said.

They added: "The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and person nary spot connected our airwaves...

"The squad were dealing with a unrecorded situation, but with hindsight we should person pulled the watercourse during the performance. We regret this did not happen."