The BBC has issued a formal apology and triggered sweeping internal changes after airing a controversial live performance by punk duo Bob Vylan during its Glastonbury coverage, where frontman Bobby Vylan led anti-Israeli military chants. The group is now under investigation in the UK and has been barred from performing in the United States.
The backlash stems from a live-streamed set that aired on BBC platforms during the network’s Glastonbury broadcast. The duo’s frontman used the performance to voice inflammatory political slogans, which the BBC has since labelled “offensive and deplorable.” The network’s Director-General Tim Davie immediately directed that the set be pulled from all on-demand services.
The BBC confirmed that Bob Vylan was one of seven acts classified as “high risk” under its internal risk assessment process ahead of the festival. However, the editorial team had opted to stream the act live with real-time compliance monitoring, rather than implement a broadcast delay. The protocol failed. Two warnings were issued during the performance, but the feed was not cut.
BBC Chair Samir Shah called the broadcast “an error of judgement” and said the Board had convened to review the incident. “I was very pleased to note that as soon as this came to the notice of Tim Davie… he took immediate action,” Shah said. He also confirmed that accountability proceedings are underway and that stronger safeguards are being introduced across the BBC’s live music coverage.
Effective immediately, any music acts flagged as high risk will no longer be streamed live. Editorial Policy personnel will now be present on-site at major events to advise in real time, and new guidance will be issued on when to withdraw live streams mid-performance.
The Glastonbury footage has been removed from BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, but some of the broadcast remained temporarily visible as part of an ongoing live feed before being manually overridden.
Bob Vylan has not commented publicly on the ban or investigation. The BBC has said it will not provide further detail on individual accountability until internal processes conclude.
