Punk duo Bob Vylan have been dropped by their talent agency, UTA, following a controversial performance at Glastonbury Festival. The decision came after UTA reviewed the duo’s on-stage comments, which included rapper Bobby Vylan leading chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]” during their set on the West Holts Stage on Saturday, 28 June.

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The performance, initially streamed live on BBC iPlayer, was swiftly removed after backlash. The BBC later acknowledged that the stream should have been cut off in real time and said it regrets not doing so. The broadcast watchdog Ofcom and the UK government have also raised concerns over why the set was aired. Ofcom said the BBC "clearly has questions to answer" after airing the set. Police are now reviewing the footage to determine if any laws were broken.

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In an Instagram post, Bobby Vylan said he received a flood of both support and criticism following the performance. He defended the message, saying it’s important for young people to learn to stand up for what they believe is right. Glastonbury organisers condemned the remarks as crossing a line, while the BBC issued a statement denouncing the statements as antisemitic and unacceptable, stating they have no place on its platforms. The broadcaster also pledged to review its live event coverage guidelines. Labour leader Keir Starmer further added to the criticism, stating that there was “no excuse” for the language used.

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In a statement made on Monday, the BBC 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."

The statement continued: "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."

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Bob Vylan may now be barred from entering the United States due to the backlash from their recent Glastonbury performance. The punk duo are scheduled to join rapper Grandson on the Inertia Tour, starting October 24 in Spokane, Washington. However, the U.S. State Department is reportedly reviewing Robinson-Foster’s visa, amid growing political pressure. According to The Daily Caller, a senior official said that under Trump-era policies, individuals who appear to support terrorist groups could be denied entry to the country.

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Bob Vylan, formed in Suffolk in 2017 by vocalist/guitarist Bobby Vylan (Pascal Robinson-Foster) and drummer Bobbie Vylan, are known for their provocative mix of punk, grime, and hip-hop. Their lyrics often address issues like racism, police brutality, capitalism, and toxic masculinity. They gained recognition with their 2020 debut We Live Here and later found chart success with Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life, which reached No. 18 in the UK charts and won Best Album at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards. That same year, they also won the MOBO Award for Best Alternative Music Act.

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