**Bob Vylan Pulled from Manchester Festival Amid Glastonbury Outcry**
Manchester’s Radar Festival has confirmed that punk-rap act Bob Vylan will no longer headline its Saturday line-up, following controversy surrounding the band’s recent set at Glastonbury. The group, who have become known for addressing provocative political themes in their music, were due to lead the festival’s second night but have now been removed from the programme. The development comes as the duo face growing backlash after their on-stage remarks at Glastonbury, which have prompted both a police investigation and wider debate about artistic freedom and responsibility.
The controversy began when Bob Vylan’s frontman, Bobby Vylan (real name Pascal Robinson-Foster), led festival-goers in a chant that referenced the Israeli Defence Forces during a live-streamed performance at Glastonbury last weekend. The chant, “death, death to the IDF,” was broadcast by the BBC, which has since faced criticism for not intervening during the set. The incident swiftly attracted police attention, with Avon and Somerset Constabulary confirming they have launched an investigation.
In the wake of the incident, Radar Festival released a statement on its Instagram account confirming the removal of Bob Vylan from this weekend’s line-up. The announcement read simply: “Bob Vylan will not be appearing at Radar Festival this weekend.” The festival website has since been updated, renaming Saturday’s headline slot as “Headliner TBA”, indicating that a replacement act is yet to be confirmed.
In a response shared via Instagram Stories, Bob Vylan appeared to suggest they would not be silenced over their views, stating, “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester we will be back.” This comment reflects a pattern in the band’s public statements lately, with the group claiming earlier this week that they are being “targeted for speaking up” in the aftermath of heightened scrutiny and inquiries from the police.
The BBC, on its part, has apologised for livestreaming the controversial Glastonbury performance, with a spokesperson acknowledging that the “antisemitic sentiments” expressed during the set were “unacceptable”. It also emerged that the BBC’s director-general, Tim Davie, was reportedly present at the festival during Bob Vylan’s performance. The broadcaster has clarified that Davie was informed about the incident after the set and made it clear that the performance should not be included in any additional festival coverage.
Beyond the UK, the fallout from Glastonbury continues for the duo. US authorities have reportedly revoked Bob Vylan’s visas, effectively banning them from entering the United States due to what officials described as a “hateful tirade at Glastonbury.” Their planned gigs in Germany have also been cancelled as venues distance themselves from the controversy.
Despite these recent setbacks, it appears Bob Vylan are still set to perform at Boardmasters Festival in Newquay, Cornwall this August. Organisers there have yet to comment on any possible changes to their roster, and the expectation is that the duo’s appearance at the surfing and music festival will go ahead as planned.
Formed in Ipswich in 2017, Bob Vylan have garnered attention for blending punk and rap sounds while exploring topics like racism, masculinity, and class divide. Their candid and uncompromising style has found vocal supporters as well as critics, placing them frequently at the heart of heated cultural debates.
As the Radar Festival prepares to announce a new act for their headline slot, the Bob Vylan controversy has reignited complex discussions around free speech, protest, and where the lines should be drawn at high-profile cultural events. For now, the fallout from Glastonbury continues to reverberate across the live music scene, with both organisers and artists grappling with the ramifications of what unfolds on stage and online.