Bob Vylan announces they are suing the BBC for defamation after row over corporation airing their 'Death to the IDF!' Glastonbury chant

By AIDAN RADNEDGE, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 15:31, 3 July 2026 | Updated: 15:31, 3 July 2026 Punk duo Bob Vylan announced plans to sue the BBC for alleged defamation after airing their 'Death to the IDF' chants at last summer's Glastonbury Festival. The BBC apologised after livestreaming the act's performance in June last year, with critics accusing both band and corporation over alleged anti-Semitism. Avon and Somerset launched a criminal investigation, but no further action was taken - with the force saying there was 'insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction'.  The group, fronted by 35-year-old Bobby Vylan whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, had concerts cancelled in the immediate aftermath of last summer's controversy - including festivals in Manchester and France as welll as a scheduled gig in Germany. Visas were also denied for a scheduled tour taking in events in the US.  Bob Vylan's entire performance in a Saturday afternoon slot at Glastonbury - including chants of 'Free Palestine' and 'Death to the IDF', the Israeli Defense Forces - was live-streamed on the BBC iPlayer but was later taken down. Nevertheless, the corporation was lambasted for failing to cut the broadcast immediately after 'anti-Israel' chanting involving members of the crowd - then issued an apology for what it described as the band's 'utterly unacceptable' sentiments. Now, in a post on Instagram, Bob Vylan revealed plans to sue the corporation whose new director-general Matt Brittin only took over from Tim Davie in May this year. Punk duo Bob Vylan posted on social media plans to take legal action against the BBC following controversy over a broadcast performance at the Glastonbury Festival in June 2025 The group is fronted by Bobby Vylan whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster (pictured) The message stated: 'We have decided to take legal action against the BBC. In the immediate aftermath of our performance at Glastonbury 2025, The BBC wasted no time in placing labels upon us that did not, do not and never will fit. 'As a corporation that receives the majority of its funding from the public, it has disappointingly continued to prove how little it represents the interests of the people and our access to unbiased news and information. 'The BBC have attempted to silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine, instead labelling them as anti-semitic, editing their speeches, removing their content and even blocking the release of documentaries that challenge the desired narrative of The BBC and its top brass. 'These responses are unacceptable. So seeing the opportunity to remind them the power of the people that they are attempting to silence, we had no choice but to take on this fight. In fact, we take great pleasure in serving them that reminder in court.' The group formed in their hometown of Ipswich in 2017 and have since gone on to release five albums including 2020 debut We Live Here. The BBC previously admitted it should have cut the broadcast of what it called 'utterly unacceptable' and 'antisemitic' sentiments in Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set. The live stream continued for 40 minutes until the end of Bob Vylan's performance. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis later described Bob Vylan's chants as having 'very much crossed a line'. Chants of 'death, death to the IDF' prompted calls for the band members to be arrested over claims they had incited violence - though officers ultimately opted not to take further action Bobby Vylan of Bob Vylan crowdsurfs in front of the West Holts stage during day four of the Glastonbury Festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton in Somerset She said in a statement: '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.' And the BBC said days after last summer's broadcast: 'Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC's output but one performance within our live streams included comments that were deeply offensive.  '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. 'We welcome Glastonbury's condemnation of the performance. 'The performance was part of a live stream of the West Holts stage on BBC iPlayer. The judgement on Saturday to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines. 'In addition, we took the decision not to make the performance available on demand. 'The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen. The frontman, real name Pascal Robinson-Foster, formed the band in hometown Ipswich '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.' The BBC has been approached for further comment today.   In a House of Commons statement following last year's Glastonbury, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy repeated the Government's condemnation of what she called 'appalling and unacceptable' scenes at the festival. She piled pressure on then-director general Mr Davie to explain why the controversial performance by Bob Vylan was broadcast live and why the feed had not been immediately cut when chants of 'death to the IDF' began. Ms Nandy told MPs: 'I expect answers to these questions without delay. I have made that view clear to the BBC leadership and I will of course update the House as soon as I can. The Culture Secretary also revealed she had spoken to members of the Jewish community over the weekend, including those who attended Glastonbury. 'They have raised a number of concerns about imagery and slogans that were on display at the festival this weekend,' she added. 'And I am told this led them to establish their own safe space at the festival. As a Government we take this incredibly seriously. The group previously won a prize for Best Alternative Music Act at the MOBO Awards at London's OVO Arena in November 2022 'We are urgently looking into the specifics of these alarming reports and reaching out to the festival organisers.' Ms Nandy said the Government 'strongly supported' freedom of expression and would defend the right to artistic expression. But she added: 'We do not accept incitement to violence, hate speech, or anti-Semitism is art. 'There is a clear difference between speaking out for Palestine, which is the right of everybody in this House, and everybody in our country, and anti-Semitism which is not, and will never be. 'When the rights and safety of people and communities are at risk, and when our national broadcaster fails to uphold its own standards, we will intervene.' Bobby Vylan responded at the time by posting on Instagram, 'I said what I said', and told of being 'inundated with messages of both support and hatred'. Robinson-Foster wrote: 'As I lay in bed this morning, my phone buzzing non stop, inundated with messages of both support and hatred, I listen to my daughter typing out loud as she fills out a school survey asking for her feedback on the current state of her school dinners. 'She expressed that she would like healthier meals, more options and dishes inspired by other parts of the world. The frontman performs under the name Bobby Vylan alongside drummer dubbed Bobbie Vylan 'Listening to her voice her opinions on a matter that she cares about and affects her daily, reminds me that we may not be doomed after all. 'Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place. 'As we grow older and our fire possibly starts to dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us. 'Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change. 'Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered. 'Today it is a change in school dinners, tomorrow it is a change in foreign policy.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.