BBC boss Tim Davie was at Glastonbury when Bob Vylan launched into his anti-Israel chant.
The director general was made aware and consulted after the frontman of the band, 34, chanted “death to the IDF” and other alleged anti-Semitic slurs on the West Holts stage on Saturday.
Bob Vylan chanted “death to the IDF” during his set on Saturday[/caption]
BBC boss Tim Davie was at Glastonbury when Vylan launched into his anti-Israel chant[/caption]
Glastonbury Festival organisers said they were ‘appalled’ by Bob Vylan’s performance[/caption]
Critics have demanded BBC chiefs be sacked for broadcasting the jibes, which are now subject to a criminal investigation.
As reported by the Telegraph, Mr Davie was at the festival to see staff when the shocking performance unfolded.
He was made away and decided it should not be available on BBC iPlayer, but it remained accessible for another five hours.
A BBC insider said: “Tim was there for a few hours to see the team. He was made aware during the time he was there what had been said on stage.
“He intervened to make sure the performance was not made available on demand and he was very clear about that.”
The source said cutting the livestream had “technological challenges” but “in hindsight” it would have been removed.
“He would have asked what the options were, but it isn’t as straight forward as hitting a button and taking it down,” they added.
PM Keir Starmer blasted the BBC for allowing the hate-filled rant.
Demanding an explanation from director-general Tim Davie, the Prime Minister said: “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech.”
In response to growing backlash, the BBC yesterday put out a grovelling statement saying it “should have pulled” the stream of Bob Vylan’s controversial performance.
The broadcaster said the set contained “utterly unacceptable” and “anti-Semitic sentiments” – but still failed to apologise for choosing not to cut the feed.
The Beeb’s statement said: “Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC’s output but one performance within our live streams included comments that were deeply offensive.
“The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence.
“The anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.
“We welcome Glastonbury’s condemnation of the performance.
“The performance was part of a live stream of the West Holts stage on BBC iPlayer.
“The judgement on Saturday to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines.
“In addition, we took the decision not to make the performance available on demand.
“The team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.
“In light of this weekend, we will look at our guidance around live events so we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air.”
But critics have demanded BBC chiefs be sacked for broadcasting the jibes which descended into a “sickening hate rally”.
Corporation bosses have also been ordered to explain why licence fee cash was spent on the shameful outburst to viewers watching at home on the BBC iPlayer.
And, prior to the BBC’s statement, broadcast regulator Ofcom, which is conducting its own probe, said it was “very concerned” by the performance, adding: “The BBC clearly has questions to answer.”
This comes as the performance is now subject to a criminal investigation and has been recorded as a public order incident.
Controversial Irish rock group Kneecap are also subject to the probe after the group took to the stage and led a “free Palestine” chant before leading five chants against the Prime Minister.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that cops were investigating the two groups after video and audio footage had been examined.
Posting on X, the force said: “Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s performances at Glastonbury Festival has been reviewed.
“Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken.
“A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation.
“This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage.”
It confirmed that it had received a “large amount” of contact from across the world about the disturbing performances.
“The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.
“We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognise the strength of public feeling.
“There is absolutely no place in society for hate.
“Neighbourhood policing teams are speaking with people in their local communities and key stakeholders to make sure anyone who needs us knows we are here for them.
“We hope the work we have carried out, and our continuing to carry out, reassures the public how seriously we are treating Saturday’s events.
“We politely ask the public to refrain from continuing to report this matter to us because an investigation is already taking place.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called for the rapper to be “arrested and prosecuted immediately”.
He labelled it an example of a two-tier justice system and called for Vylan to be treated in a similar fashion to Lucy Connolly, the Tory councillor’s wife who was jailed for tweets in the aftermath of the Southport murders last summer.
Footage of Bob Vylan first hears the band members and crowds chant “Free free” before Bobby says: “Have you heard this one though?
“Death, death, to the IDF.”
The crowds then parroted the chant back at him.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also confirmed yesterday that visas belonging to Bob Vylan had been revoked because of “their hateful tirade at Glastonbury”.
Mr Landau accused the duo of “glorifying violence” during the disturbing set.
Posting on X, he said: “The Department of State has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants.
“Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
Meanwhile, Kneecap rapper JJ O Dochartaigh was seen in an X post wearing a top referring to the anti-Israel campaign group Palestine Action, amid British government plans to make it illegal to join the organisation.
BBC bosses had already said that Kneecap’s performance wouldn’t be shown live on Saturday afternoon but act Bob Vylan – on stage before them – caught them unawares.
Beeb villain
WHY wasn’t it immediately obvious to the BBC bosses in charge at Glastonbury that Bob Vylan’s vile rants were hate-filled racism?
Would they have broadcast a performer screaming anti-Muslim or far right hate speech? Of course not.
Perhaps a clue lies in the masses of evidence of anti-Israeli institutional bias from the Beeb since the October 7 Hamas terror attacks.
The “death to the IDF” chant by Pascal Robinson-Foster — the real name of Bob Vylan’s singer — was so obviously incitement that it has triggered a police investigation.
Equally shameful was the rapper’s extended diatribe against his former Jewish record label boss.
Yet the BBC was happy to put it out live on iPlayer — where it remained for five hours.
Its apology yesterday — offering simply to “review guidelines” — didn’t go anywhere near addressing the real problem.
Unless bosses properly confront the culture of anti-Israel sentiment at the Corporation, such disgusting incidents will keep on happening.
The performance is now under criminal investigation[/caption]
Liam Og O hAnnaidh and Naoise O Caireallain of Kneecap during the Glastonbury set[/caption]
Kneecap member JJ O Dochartaigh in a ‘We Are All Palestine Action’ t-shirt ahead of the band’s Glastonbury performance[/caption]
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