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BBC Music Chief Steps Back from Duties After Glastonbury Live Stream of Rap Duo Bob Vylan Chanting ‘Death to IDF’

BBC headquarters in central London. Photo by Vuk Valcic / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

The BBC’s Director of Music Lorna Clarke has reportedly stepped back from her day-to-day duties after the corporation apologized for streaming a live performance by the British punk rap duo Bob Vylan at the Glastonbury Festival, during which they lead the audience in chanting “Death to the IDF,” a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.

The BBC said on Thursday that a small number of senior staff members have been told to pull back from their daily duties covering music and live events after the BBC streamed Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set in late June. Clarke is reportedly among that small group of senior staffers, The Times reported. According to the BBC’s website, Clarke is responsible for six national popular and classical music networks, as well as live music events, and has over 30 years of broadcasting experience.

Bob Vylan’s lead singer Pascal Robinson-Foster led the crowd in chanting, “Free, free Palestine” as well as “Death, death to the IDF,” during the duo’s Glastonbury set on June 28 at the event in Somerset, England. The performance was available to watch on BBC via a live stream on iPlayer.

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was removed from the lineup for England’s Radar Festival and France’s Kave Fest, their US visas were revoked ahead of their North America tour, and they were dropped by the United Talent Agency. Bob Vylan is also banned from opening for the US-based band Gogol Bordello in Germany later this year by the Live Music Hall venue, Rolling Stone reported.

BBC Chairman Samir Shah said in a statement on July 3 that the corporation was wrong for transmitting Bob Vylan’s anti-IDF exhortations.

“I’d like first of all to apologise to all our viewers and listeners and particularly the Jewish community for allowing the ‘artist’ Bob Vylan to express unconscionable antisemitic views live on the BBC,” he said. “This was unquestionably an error of judgment. I was very pleased to note that as soon as this came to the notice of [BBC Director-General] Tim Davie — who was on the Glastonbury site at the time visiting BBC staff — he took immediate action and instructed the team to withdraw the performance from on-demand coverage.”

“I am satisfied that the Executive is initiating a process to ensure proper accountability for those found to be responsible for the failings in this incident,” he added. “While it is important that the process is carried out fairly and correctly, it is equally important that the Executive takes decisive action. The Board fully supports the Director-General and the swift actions taken by him and his team to identify these errors and address them.”

In a separate statement, the BBC apologized for live streaming Bob Vylan’s “offensive and deplorable behavior.” The corporation insisted “there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC” and admitted that “errors were made both in the lead-up to and during Bob Vylan’s appearance.” The BBC said it was taking action to “ensure proper accountability for those found to be responsible” for the broadcast.

The BBC also said Bob Vylan were one of seven Glastonbury acts considered “high risk” following a risk assessment process done ahead of the festival, but the duo was ultimately found suitable for live streaming “with appropriate mitigations.” The broadcaster said it would make “immediate changes to livestreaming music events” so that in the future “any music performances deemed high risk by the BBC will now not be broadcast live or streamed live.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the anti-IDF chant as “appalling hate speech.” Glastonbury head Emily Eavis and organizers of the event said in a joint statement that they were “appalled” by Bob Vylan’s behaviour at Glastonbury.

“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,” they said. “Glastonbury Festival 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 — and actively campaign for — hope, unity, peace and love.”

Bob Vylan shared a statement on Instagram further explaining their “Death to the IDF” chant. “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine,” they wrote. “A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza. We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”

Bob Vylan performed at Glastonbury on the West Holts stage ahead of Kneecap, an Irish rap group that shared a “f–k Israel, free Palestine” message on stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. A member of Kneecap has also been charged for allegedly expressing support for Hezbollah, which is a US- and UK-designated terrorist organization. During their own set at the Glastonbury Festival, Kneecap expressed support for Palestine and criticized the British and American governments.

The post BBC Music Chief Steps Back from Duties After Glastonbury Live Stream of Rap Duo Bob Vylan Chanting ‘Death to IDF’ first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War

Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.

Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.

“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”

GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’

Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.

“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.

“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.

“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.

After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”

RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL

Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”

Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.

“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”

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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests

A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco

Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.

People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.

“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”

Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.

On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.

Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.

On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.

“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.

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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan

Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.

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