Recommendations of the Editorial team
Afterwards to Bob Vylan’s controversial appearance at the Glastonbury Festival, the BBC condemned the duo. “We deeply regret that such an insulting and reprehensible behavior could be seen on the BBC,” it said in an official apology at the beginning of the month with reference to the calls “Free, Free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF”. More than two weeks after the set has been broadcast live online, Now admitted the BBC that team members could have interrupted the transmission on site. But ultimately it didn’t.
BBC: decision was made on site
“People were present in Glastonbury who, after a reasonable consideration, had the authority to interrupt the livestream,” said BBC Director Director Tim Davie, according to Deadline. “These people had access to advice and support outside the site if they had considered necessary. What we can say is that the interruption of the live stream was an option for those present on site.”
Davie did not explain why this decision was not made-although two weeks before the festival had already been decided not to radiate the appearance of Irish rap trio Kneecap on the same weekend. Bob Vylan was also classified as a “high risk act” at the time. The new explanation of Davie gives little context of earlier BBC positions, including the one in which the non-interruption of the stream was called “error”.
“The decision was made that risks in terms of content during the live stream in real time-by linguistic or content warnings-could be reduced without being necessary,” it said in an earlier BBC declaration. “This was clearly not the case. During the performance, the livestream was monitored in accordance with the agreed protocols and several problems were escalated. Warnings appeared twice in the stream, and the editorial team decided not to interrupt the transfer. This was a mistake.”
New BBC guidelines for live streams announced
In September, the BBC plans to publish new editorial guidelines for live events. The revision was already in the works before Glastonbury, but would now be “further checked in the light of these events and possible changes,” said Davie.
In the meantime, Bob Vylan has already returned to the stage. During a performance in the 100 Club London, the audience again called “Death to the IDF”. Frontmann Bobby Vylan quickly switched the crowd to “Free, Free Palestine”.
“I will try not to talk too much today because that was exactly what got us into trouble at all,” said Vylan. “I’m pretty tired. It was a busy week, a few stressful days. Only fire, you already know? We could never have imagined that we would initiate a discussion that had to be conducted.”
He added: “We just want to see the liberation of the Palestinian people. This is all. I don’t think that too much is required. I do not think that this is a violent concern, is it?
Bob Vylan defend themselves against anti-Semitism allegation
Immediately after her Glastonbury appearance, Bob Vylan confirmed her attitude-after her call “Death to the IDF” was immediately equated with anti-Semitism. “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other ethnic or religious group. We are for the abolition of a violent military machinery,” wrote the duo on Instagram.
“A machine whose soldiers were told that they should use ‘unnecessarily deadly violence’ against innocent civilians who were waiting for help. A machine that destroyed large parts of Gaza. We, like others, are not the story before.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, more than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza in Israeli attacks since October 2023. Over 127,000 people were injured.