Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, June 28, 2025
MUSICAL duo Bob Vylan are taking legal action against the BBC for defamation following their Glastonbury 2025 set.
The pair performed on the West Holts stage last year, with their set streamed live.
During the performance, frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in chants of “free, free Palestine” and “death, death to the IDF.”
The BBC said it “deeply” regretted broadcasting the performance, describing the comments as “antisemitic sentiments” that were “utterly unacceptable.”
Bob Vylan said: “In the immediate aftermath of our performance at Glastonbury 2025, the BBC wasted no time in placing labels upon us that did not, do not and never will fit.”
The band accused the BBC of attempting “to silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine,” adding that the broadcaster had labelled them unfairly, edited their speeches and removed their content.
Both members have launched separate legal proceedings in the High Court in Ireland, represented by the same Belfast-based solicitor who represented Kneecap in their successful challenge against the government over a blocked arts grant.
The BBC said it does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings.
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