Ofcom Says It Is Treating Bob Vylan Glastonbury Controversy 'As A Matter Of Urgency'
TV watchdog Ofcom has responded to the controversy surrounding punk rap duo Bob Vylan’s set at Glastonbury over the weekend, which was streamed live on BBC iPlayer.
On Saturday afternoon, the band made headlines when frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in a chant of “free Palestine”, before he began another chant of “death to the IDF”, referring to Israel’s army.
Since then, UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, the BBC and Glastonbury organisers have all spoken out to condemn the performer’s actions.
Meanwhile, after Starmer raised his personal concerns about how Bob Vylan and the crowd’s chant came to be broadcast on the BBC, Ofcom has now made it clear that they also have questions.
A statement from the media regulator published in Metro said: “We are very concerned about the live stream of this performance, and the BBC clearly has questions to answer.
“We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines.”
Typically, Ofcom does not deal with BBC matters, as the national broadcaster has its own complaints department, though it will intervene in what it deems to be “exceptional circumstances”.
The BBC has since said in a statement: “Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC’s output but one performance within our livestreams included comments that were deeply offensive. 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. 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 judgment 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.”
Bob Vylan’s frontman spoke out for the first time on Sunday evening, in an Instagram post captioned: “I said what I said.”
“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 for her feedback on the current state of her school dinners,” he wrote. “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.”