The BBC has said it regrets not pulling the live stream of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set, during which a band member shouted “death to the IDF” – as Ofcom said the broadcaster has “questions to answer”.
A spokesperson for the corporation said the remarks by frontman Bobby Vylan were antisemetic and “utterly unacceptable”, and the performance should have been taken off air.
It came as media watchdog Ofcom said it was “very concerned” about the stream, which showed the rapper leading chants of: “Free, free Palestine” and: “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)” at Glastonbury‘s West Holts Stage on Saturday.
Footage showed some of the crowd joining in, as the group performed in front of a screen that said Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to “genocide”.
On Monday, the BBC released an updated statement, saying: “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.”
A judgment to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines, the spokesperson said, and the performance has not been made available to view 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.
“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.”
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We are very concerned about the live stream of this performance, and the BBC clearly has questions to answer.
“We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines.”
The latest development follows severe condemnation from both the prime minister and festival organiser Emily Eavis on Sunday.
Sir Keir Starmer said there was “no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech”.
He also referenced a previous statement that Belfast rap group Kneecap, who were on stage after Bob Vylan, should have been removed from the line-up after one member was charged with a terrorism offence.
“I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence,” he said.
Eavis said Bob Vylan had “very much crossed a line”.
She added: “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 Israeli embassy said it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric”, adding that the slogan chanted “advocates for the dismantling of the State of Israel”.
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