Social media points fingers back at institutions punishing Bob Vylan for Glastonbury set

As the British government and the BBC condemn Glastonbury Festival duo Bob Vylan for a controversial set on Saturday, many on social media this week are accusing the institutions of reacting more strongly to their performance than to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

In a week already marked by controversy over Irish rap group Kneecap’s Glastonbury set - amid government accusations that the trio incited terrorism at a prior concert in the UK - backlash ensued after British grime-punk duo led a chant of "death, death to the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces]" to their audience of thousands, and to the additional millions who watched BBC's airing of the performance. 

Bob Vylan - comprising vocalist and guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan - are known for fusing punk, grime and hip-hop with socially conscious themes. Their lyrics frequently address racism, mental health, and gentrification in Britain’s Black communities.

The band member that led the chant, Bobby Vylan (Pascal Robinson-Foster), also spoke of once working under a "fucking Zionist" and called out the UK and the US or "being complicit in war crimes and genocide happening ... to the Palestinian people". 

Read more: Social media points fingers back at institutions punishing Bob Vylan for Glastonbury set