Bob Vylan's "Death to the IDF" Chant UTA Drops Punk Duo After Glastonbury Fury

UTA Drops Bob Vylan After Controversial Glastonbury Set

The fallout from Bob Vylan's performance at Glastonbury Festival continues, with significant repercussions for the punk duo. UTA (United Talent Agency) has severed ties with the band following controversial statements made during their set on Saturday. This decision comes after widespread condemnation of the band's on-stage remarks.

Deadline reports that UTA executives acted swiftly over the weekend after assessing the content of Vylan's performance. The controversy stems from chants and statements made by Bobby Vylan during the set, which have ignited a firestorm of criticism.

Key points of contention include:

• Chanting "death to the IDF."
• Complaining about working for a "f***ing Zionist."
• Platforming the slogan, "from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, free."

These statements, delivered during the band's performance on the West Holts stage and streamed live on the BBC, have drawn strong reactions from various quarters.

Glastonbury organizers have also expressed their disapproval. According to Deadline, UTA insiders reportedly shared sentiments similar to those of Glastonbury chief Emily Eavis, who stated that Vylan "overstepped the mark" with his comments. Eavis released a statement saying:

“We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. 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.”

Following the performance, Bobby Vylan addressed the situation on Instagram, acknowledging the influx of messages, both supportive and critical. In a message captioned "I said what I said," Vylan appeared to stand by his statements, emphasizing the importance of advocating for their beliefs. He wrote:

"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."

The BBC, which streamed the performance live, has also faced criticism for not cutting away from the set. Even Prime Minister Keir Starmer weighed in on the matter. The BBC has since issued a statement expressing regret over the decision, stating:

"The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves."

The BBC further explained that their attention was primarily focused on another act, Kneecap, due to prior concerns about potential hate speech. However, it was Bob Vylan's performance that ultimately sparked the most significant controversy. The BBC added: "the team were dealing with a live situation but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance,” adding: “We regret this did not happen.”

The incident raises important questions about freedom of speech, the responsibilities of artists on stage, and the role of broadcasters in live events. The swift action taken by UTA underscores the seriousness with which such matters are being treated in the entertainment industry. This entire situation is a stark reminder of the power and potential impact of words, particularly on a large and diverse platform like Glastonbury. The consequences, as seen here, can be significant and far-reaching, impacting not only the artist involved but also the agencies and organizations associated with them.

Tags: Bob Vylan, UTA, Glastonbury, IDF, Zionist, Palestine, UK scandal, Music, Controversy, Anti-Semitism, BBC, Emily Eavis, Keir Starmer

Source: https://deadline.com/2025/06/bob-vylan-dropped-uta-1236445637/