BBC Faces Backlash After Airing "Death to IDF" Chant at Glastonbury

The BBC is under fire after punk duo Bob Vylan chanted "death to the IDF" during a live Glastonbury performance, streamed via BBC iPlayer. Despite pre-labeling the act as "high risk," the BBC failed to cut the live feed, prompting public outrage and an internal shake-up.

Director General Tim Davie and BBC Chair Samir Shah both issued apologies, with Shah calling the decision an "unquestionable error of judgement."

The broadcast drew condemnation from UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, while Ofcom launched inquiries. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed a criminal investigation is underway, with London's Met Police probing a separate concert incident.

Meanwhile, Bob Vylan remains defiant, stating: "Silence is not an option," and defending their stance as anti-military, not antisemitic. Several festival bookings have since dropped the band.

The controversy comes amid growing global outrage over the war in Gaza, where over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, according to local health authorities. The staggering death toll has fueled protests and artistic responses worldwide, especially within music and youth culture.

The BBC has pledged to overhaul its livestreaming policy, banning future live coverage of "high-risk" acts - a decision raising concerns over censorship and political pressure in publicly funded media.

Controversy deepens as Belfast rap group Kneecap, also known for pro-Palestinian messaging, performed despite government calls to cancel them. Their Glastonbury set included accusations of Israeli war crimes, igniting further debate over free speech and the limits of political expression in music.