Glastonbury Festival says 'death to IDF' chant 'crossed a line'

Glastonbury Festival has published a statement condemning comments by punk duo Bob Vylan yesterday. 

The duo led chants of “death to the IDF” during their Saturday performance at the large musical festival, referring to an acronym for the Israeli military. 

"With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer's presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs," Glastonbury Festival wrote on its official Instagram account. 

"However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday.

"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."

The UK government also condemned the chants, and British police said it was investigating the matter. 

Earlier on Saturday, British-Turkish singer Nilufer Yanya’s set included a backdrop that read “Free Free Palestine”, and a banner supporting Palestine was unfurled on stage.

Meanwhile, a member of Irish rap trio Kneecap wore a t-shirt dedicated to Palestine Action - a group set to be banned by the UK under terror laws.