The BBC has removed several senior staff members, including director of music Lorna Clarke, after the corporation broadcast British rap-punk duo Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance in which frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chants of “Death, death to the IDF.” The broadcaster apologised to viewers, saying the set should not have aired live, and announced it will no longer live-stream performances it deems “high risk.” Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called the incident a failure of editorial leadership, while media regulator Ofcom said the BBC “has questions to answer.” Law-enforcement scrutiny has also intensified. Avon and Somerset Police opened a public-order investigation into the Glastonbury performance, and the Metropolitan Police are examining similar remarks made by the group at a May concert in London. Separately, the U.S. State Department revoked the duo’s visas, with Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau saying foreigners who glorify violence are “not welcome visitors.” Industry repercussions are spreading. Manchester’s Radar Festival dropped Bob Vylan from this weekend’s lineup, a decision its organiser said was necessary to keep the Saturday programme alive after venue owners and local authorities raised security concerns. At least two other acts, including The Scratch and ĠENN, have withdrawn from Radar in protest, and the duo have been removed from upcoming dates in France and Germany. Bob Vylan said their remarks targeted Israel’s military rather than any ethnic or religious group and accused critics of silencing pro-Palestinian speech. The group remains booked for Boardmasters festival in August but faces mounting cancellations elsewhere as promoters, regulators and law-enforcement agencies weigh the fallout from their Glastonbury appearance.
Historic Bob Vylan clip resurfaces showing frontman chanting ‘the only good pig is a dead pig’ in vile police jibe https://t.co/Y5GKWB8Ofh
Bands start boycotting Radar festival after @BobbyVylan removed from line-up https://t.co/vlVDPQRV2Q
BREAKING: 🚨 Bob Vylan was dropped from the Radar Festival this weekend. Genn is the first band to drop out in support of him and Palestine 👏🏻 [via genntheband IG] https://t.co/KCF3nyy64B