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\n\tAvon and Somerset Police have launched a criminal investigation into the Glastonbury Festival<\/a> sets of Bob Vylan and Kneecap, following public backlash and political scrutiny over remarks made during their respective performances on Saturday (June 29).<\/p>\n \n\tBob Vylan\u2019s set<\/a>, which was livestreamed on the BBC, featured a chant from frontman Bobby Vylan (Pascal Robinson-Foster) that included the phrase \u201cdeath to the IDF,\u201d referencing the Israel Defense Forces. The BBC later issued an apology for not cutting the feed, describing the comments as \u201cantisemitic\u201d and committing to reviewing its guidance for live broadcasts.<\/p>\n \n\tThe festival has also shared an official response to the chants led by Vylan, saying it is \u201cappalled\u201d by his comments.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cGlastonbury<\/a>\u00a0Festival was created in 1970 as a place for people to come together and rejoice in music, the arts and the best of human endeavour. As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism. We will always believe in \u2013 and actively campaign for \u2013 hope, unity, peace and love,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWith almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer\u2019s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHowever, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tCulture Secretary Lisa Nandy raised the issue in Parliament on Monday, saying she contacted the BBC\u2019s director general directly after the broadcast. \u201cOutstanding questions remain,\u201d she said, including \u201cwhy the feed wasn\u2019t immediately cut,\u201d and \u201cwhat due diligence had been done\u201d before Bob Vylan\u2019s performance was aired.<\/p>\n \n\tIn a video response, Bobby Vylan defended his remarks, stating, \u201cRegardless of how it was said, calling for an end to the slaughter of innocents is never wrong,\u201d while adding, \u201cThis anger is not directed at [Israeli] civilians.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tThe band, who had been preparing for a U.S. tour later this year, have since had their American visas revoked according to reporting from BBC News<\/a>, with a U.S. State Department official writing on social media, \u201cForeigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.\u201d<\/p>\n