Glastonbury 2025: Bob Vylan reacts to chant controversy

Posted On June 30, 2025June 30, 2025

Bobby Vylan from the punk rock duo Bob Vylan has spoken out about his controversial comments during his set at the Glastonbury Festival.

This Glastonbury 2025 brought with it a huge discussion surrounding censorship in the media. As it was confirmed that Irish trio, Kneecap, would have their set removed from the BBC’s livestream and the broadcaster would instead upload an edited version, fans flocked to their West Holt’s set to see what the band might say.

While Kneecap did call out Keir Starmer during their set, it was Bob Vylan who went on before them, causing the most controversy over the weekend. Renowned as a political act, they started pro-Palestine chants, including one that said “Death to the IDF.” 

The chant has been met with plenty of controversy, including from Glastonbury themselves, who condoned what was said during the performance. The festival confirmed that while it is against war, it acknowledges that there will inevitably be performers whose views they disagree with, and they believe Bob Vylan went too far with some of their comments. 

“We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday,” the festival wrote. “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.” 

Bobby Vylan has since discussed the backlash he received for his comments at Glastonbury. In a post captioned “I said what I said,” he spoke about his daughter and the next generation, and how important it is to voice opinions, even if those opinions make people uncomfortable.

“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,” he said. “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.” 

He concluded, “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.”

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