Bob Vylan frontman Bobby Vylan has refused to back down after facing backlash for leading chants including ‘death to the IDF’ at Glastonbury.
On Saturday the English punk duo – which also includes Bobbie Vylan on drums – took to the festival’s West Holts Stage ahead of Kneecap.
During their set, they led festival-goers in chants calling for the end of the Israeli Defence Force and to ‘free, free Palestine’.
Soon after police said they were reviewing footage from the performance to determine whether offences have been committed.
A day on Bobby has released a statement about encouraging activism in the next generation.
‘As I lay in bed this morning, my phone buzzing non-stop, inundated with messages of both support and hatred, I listen to my daughter typing out loud as she fills out a school survey asking her for feedback on the current state of her school dinners,’ he began.
‘She expressed that she would like healthier meals, more options and dishes inspired by other parts of the world.
‘Listening to her voice her opinions on a matter that she cares about and affects her daily reminds me that we may not be doomed after all. Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.
‘As we grow older and our fire possibly starts to dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us. Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change. Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered. Today it is a change in school dinners, tomorrow it is a change in foreign policy.’
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‘I said what I said,’ he captioned his post.
His response comes after the band came under fire for the comments made on stage.
Earlier today a post by Avon and Somerset police on social media said: ‘We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.
‘Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.’
Meanwhile spokesperson for the BBC said: ‘Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.
‘During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.’
Reacting to the furore, Bobby posted a selfie of himself holding a tub of ice cream.
‘While zionists are crying on socials, I’ve just had a tub of (vegan) ice cream,’ he shared.
Bob Vylan, who are based in London, perform under stage names to maintain their privacy in face of what they describe as a surveillance state.
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