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The BBC has said it regrets not cutting the livestream of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, saying it contained “utterly unacceptable” antisemitic sentiments.
The corporation and its director general, Tim Davie, have come under significant pressure from Keir Starmer and the regulator, Ofcom, after the broadcast on Saturday in which musician Bobby Vylan – of the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan – led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]” in relation to the conflict in Gaza.
The BBC initially acknowledged that some of the comments were “deeply offensive”. It said a warning was issued on screen about the “very strong and discriminatory language” at the time.
However, in a statement on Monday, the BBC went further, saying it should not have allowed the comments to be broadcast and would look to update its guidance around live events. “Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC’s output but one performance within our livestreams included comments that were deeply offensive,” it said.
“The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. We welcome Glastonbury’s condemnation of the performance.
“The performance was part of a live stream of the West Holts stage on BBC iPlayer. The judgment on Saturday to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines.
“In addition, we took the decision not to make the performance available on demand. The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen. In light of this weekend, we will look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”
Writing on Instagram on Sunday, Bobby Vylan said his phone had been “buzzing non stop, inundated with messages of both support and hatred”. He said: “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.
“As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”
The performance was not broadcast on linear television, but could be watched on Saturday via a livestream on iPlayer. The BBC opted not to broadcast the livestream of the Irish rap artists Kneecap who appeared later on the same West Holts stage as Bob Vylan.
One of the band members was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying the flag of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah last year. He has denied the charge and has been released on bail.
Ofcom said the BBC “clearly has questions to answer” after livestreaming the Bob Vylan footage. “We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines,” it said.
The organisers of Glastonbury festival had earlier condemned the chants started by Bob Vylan, saying they were “appalled by the statements” made on stage. “Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,” they said on Sunday.
Keir Starmer condemned the performance over the weekend, describing it as “appalling hate speech”. The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has spoken to Davie seeking an explanation.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, went much further, asking police to “urgently investigate and prosecute the BBC” for broadcasting it.
