The 2025 Glastonbury Festival, held at Worthy Farm in Somerset, has sparked controversy as Avon and Somerset Police launched a criminal investigation into performances by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan and Irish-language rap trio Kneecap on June 28, 2025. Their sets on the West Holts Stage, charged with pro-Palestinian chants and provocative statements, have ignited a firestorm of debate, drawing condemnation from politicians, festival organizers, and the Israeli embassy. Here’s the full story behind the investigation and its implications for free speech and music in 2025.

What Happened at Glastonbury?

During their Saturday set, Bob Vylan, led by singer Pascal Robinson-Foster (Bobby Vylan), led the crowd in chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF” (Israel Defense Forces), while displaying a screen message accusing Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. The performance, live-streamed by the BBC, also included Bobby Vylan’s reference to working for a “f***ing Zionist.” The BBC later called these comments “deeply offensive” and “utterly unacceptable,” regretting not cutting the stream, which prompted a warning about “very strong and discriminatory language.” The set was not made available on BBC iPlayer on-demand.

Kneecap, performing afterward, escalated tensions with expletive-laden chants of “F*** Keir Starmer” and “Free, free Palestine.” Band member Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) called for fans to “start a riot” outside bandmate Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh’s (Mo Chara) upcoming court appearance for a terrorism charge related to allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a 2024 London gig. Moglai Bap later clarified, “No riots—just love and support, and support for Palestine.” Kneecap’s set, not live-streamed due to prior concerns, was uploaded to BBC iPlayer in a largely unedited form. The group also displayed messages calling Israel “war criminals” and supporting Palestine Action, a group facing a U.K. ban as a terror organization.

Why the Criminal Investigation?

Avon and Somerset Police announced on June 30, 2025, that they are reviewing video and audio footage to determine if the performances constitute criminal offenses, recorded as a “public order incident” pending further inquiry. A senior detective is leading the investigation, which will “closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.” The police have not specified which comments are under scrutiny but emphasized, “There is absolutely no place in society for hate.”

The investigation follows intense backlash:

• Political Condemnation: U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled Bob Vylan’s chants “appalling hate speech,” arguing that Kneecap should not have been given a platform due to Mo Chara’s terrorism charge. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called the performances “appalling and unacceptable,” pressing BBC Director General Tim Davie for answers on why Bob Vylan’s set was broadcast live. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp even called for police to “prosecute the BBC” for airing it.
• Glastonbury’s Response: Organizer Emily Eavis condemned Bob Vylan’s statements, saying, “Their chants very much crossed a line,” and reiterated the festival’s stance against “antisemitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence.”
• BBC and Ofcom: The BBC admitted it should have cut Bob Vylan’s stream, citing a failure in its live event protocols. Ofcom, the U.K.’s broadcast regulator, said the BBC has “questions to answer” and is seeking details on its editorial processes.
• Israeli Embassy: The embassy called the rhetoric “inflammatory and hateful,” arguing that chants like “Death to the IDF” advocate for “ethnic cleansing” and undermine Jewish self-determination.

The Bands’ Defiant Response

Bob Vylan stood firm, with Bobby Vylan posting on Instagram, “I said what I said,” and later releasing a video statement on June 30, 2025, saying, “Calling for an end to the slaughter of innocents is never wrong.” He clarified that his anger targets the IDF, not Israeli civilians, and criticized politicians for their “allegiances.” The video was later removed from Instagram. The band faced immediate consequences, with their U.S. visas revoked and their agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), dropping them.

Kneecap, known for provocative pro-Palestinian and Irish republican rhetoric, also doubled down. Mo Chara, facing a terrorism charge from a 2024 London gig, denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, calling the flag incident a “joke” and blaming items thrown on stage. Moglai Bap thanked Glastonbury organizers for resisting calls to remove them, led by Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who cited the band’s history of inflammatory comments, including a 2023 gig where they allegedly called for killing MPs (charges were dropped).

Why This Matters in 2025

The controversy taps into a high-CPC (cost-per-click) topic, blending music, politics, and free speech. Glastonbury 2025 saw widespread pro-Palestinian support, with artists like CMAT, The Libertines, and Nadine Shah displaying flags or condemning Gaza’s destruction, where a UN report notes 56,000 Palestinian deaths. However, Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s explicit chants pushed boundaries, raising questions about the line between activism and hate speech.

• Free Speech Debate: The investigation highlights tensions over artistic expression. Bobby Vylan argued on Instagram that “teaching our children to speak up” is vital for change, while critics, like the Campaign Against Antisemitism, called the BBC’s broadcast “outrageous.”
• Festival Fallout: Glastonbury’s reputation as a platform for unity is under scrutiny, with Jewish attendees reportedly creating “safe spaces” due to the imagery.
• Global Repercussions: Bob Vylan’s U.S. visa revocation and UTA drop signal international backlash, while Kneecap’s Coachella performance earlier in 2025 also faced U.K. police scrutiny for similar pro-Palestinian messages.

Challenges and Risks

The investigation faces hurdles:

• Legal Ambiguity: Determining if chants like “Death to the IDF” or “F*** Keir Starmer” constitute hate crimes or incitement requires careful legal analysis under U.K. public order and terrorism laws.
• Political Pressure: Starmer and Nandy’s interventions risk politicizing the probe, potentially chilling artistic expression. Kneecap’s prior dropped charges suggest prosecutorial caution.
• Public Divide: X posts show polarized sentiment, with users like @S2FUncensored praising the bands’ activism, while others, like @KemiBadenoch, decry “extremism.”

What This Means for Fans and Artists

The probe into Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s Glastonbury sets raises critical questions about where activism ends and incitement begins. For fans, it’s a call to engage with the politics of music, as both bands use their platforms to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. For artists, it’s a warning to navigate sensitive issues carefully, especially under public and legal scrutiny. “Musicians have always pushed boundaries, but this shows the risks of going too far,” says music analyst Ryan Patel.

Follow the story on X or check BBC News for updates on the investigation. As Glastonbury 2025 fades, the debate over free speech and responsibility rages on—will these bands face charges, or will their voices spark change?

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