London Desk, Delhi Magazine: In the wake of a growing backlash over controversial chants made by rap-punk duo Bob Vylan during their performance at Glastonbury Festival, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has formally contacted the BBC Director-General to demand clarification about how the broadcast was handled.
The controversy stems from Bob Vylan’s performance on the West Holts stage on June 28, where they led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF”, referring to the Israeli Defense Forces. The performance was broadcast live by BBC, leading to sharp criticism across the political spectrum.
Lisa Nandy, who heads the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has now taken direct action by reaching out to the BBC’s top leadership. Sources from the department confirmed that the Culture Secretary is seeking a formal explanation regarding:
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The editorial judgment involved in airing the performance live;
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The lack of pre-broadcast content review or delay;
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And the steps taken post-broadcast, including the removal of the performance from BBC’s digital platforms.
In a statement, Nandy’s office said:
“The Culture Secretary has contacted the BBC’s Director-General to seek a detailed account of how this incident occurred and to ensure that such extreme content is not repeated on national platforms under public trust.”
This comes after Glastonbury Festival organizers themselves condemned the performance, stating:
“There is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.”
BBC has since removed the segment from iPlayer and issued a content warning, but criticism continues to mount. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting have also publicly condemned the chants as “appalling” and “dangerous.”
Meanwhile, police in Avon & Somerset are reviewing the footage to determine if any criminal laws were breached during the performance.
The situation has reignited debates over freedom of speech, censorship, and broadcaster responsibility—particularly for institutions like the BBC, which operate under a public service mandate.
Lisa Nandy’s intervention underscores the seriousness of the matter and reflects the government’s heightened sensitivity to hate speech and public broadcast standards, especially during high-profile events like Glastonbury, which attract millions of viewers and attendees.
