Bob Vylan have issued a statement confirming and commenting on the lawsuit they have filed against the BBC, which accuses the broadcaster of defamation for “placing labels upon us that did not, do not and never will fit” following their controversial performance at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival. 

It emerged last week that lawyers for the punk duo had instigated defamation proceedings against the BBC in Ireland’s High Court in Dublin, similar to an existing lawsuit they are already pursuing against Irish broadcaster RTÉ. The musicians object to the two media companies describing their on-stage criticism of Israel and support of Palestine as being “antisemitic”. 

In a post on Instagram titled ‘we are suing the BBC for defamation’, Bob Vylan criticise the broadcaster more generally regarding its coverage of the conflict in Gaza, as well as specifically hitting out at how it reported on and responded to the criticism of its own role in airing the duo’s Glastonbury performance. 

They begin by stating that, “in the immediate aftermath of our performance at Glastonbury 2025”, the BBC “wasted no time in placing labels upon us that did not, do not and never will fit”. 

That presumably alludes to the BBC and its Chair Samir Shah labelling the duo’s on-stage remarks – and especially the chant “death, death to the IDF” – as being “antisemetic”. A BBC statement issued the day after last year’s Glastonbury Festival apologised for “the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan”, with Samir subsequently apologising for the BBC airing the duo’s “unconscionable antisemitic views”. 

Bob Vylan and their lawyers have always argued that, while the duo’s on-stage comments against Israel and its military may be contentious and emotive, they are never antisemitic. If either of these cases get to court, they will centre on the tricky issue of if and when criticism of Israel constitutes antisemitism. 

The duo’s new statement then says that – given the BBC is primarily funded via the licence fee paid by any UK household with a TV – the broadcaster has “disappointingly continued to prove how little it represents the interests of the people and our access to unbiased news and information”.

They then claim that the BBC has “attempted to silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine, instead labelling them as anti-semitic … removing their content and even blocking the release of documentaries that challenge the desired narrative of the BBC and its top brass”.

That latter point relates to the documentary ‘Gaza: Doctors Under Attack’, which the BBC commissioned but then chose not to air, citing “impartiality concerns”. It was ultimately broadcast by Channel 4 in July last year and went on to win the Best Current Affairs Award at this year’s BAFTAs. 

The BBC’s conduct in relation to Gaza, supporters of Palestine and criticism of Israel is “unacceptable”, Bob Vylan continue. Which means – having seen an “opportunity” to remind BBC bosses about “the power of the people that they are attempting to silence” – they “had no choice but to take on this fight – in fact, we take great pleasure in serving them that reminder in court”. 

Of course, while some have commended Bob Vylan – and other artists like Kneecap – for using their platforms to speak out on Israel and Palestine, others have condemned them.

Critics accuse those artists of antisemitism directly, and/or of contributing to rising antisemitism within the UK, which is endangering Jewish people living in the country. Criticism of that kind has come from within the music industry, as well as from various media outlets, and within political circles. 

The day after Glastonbury 2025, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy gave a speech in the House Of Commons on what she called “the appalling and unacceptable scenes at Glastonbury on Saturday, where chants of ‘death to the IDF’ and ‘river to the sea’ among others were broadcast to the nation”. 

She conceded that it was for Avon And Somerset Police to decide whether any criminal charges should be pursued in relation to Bob Vylan’s Glasto set, and it did launch an investigation into the matter but ultimately decided there was insufficient evidence to proceed with any criminal case against the duo. Nevertheless, Nandy stated, “let me be clear that the government will not tolerate antisemitism”. 

She then insisted that the government “strongly supports freedom of expression”, and will “robustly defend the independence of our broadcasters and the right to artistic expression”, but – she concluded –

“we do not accept that incitement to violence, hate speech or antisemitism is art”.

It remains to be seen if Bob Vylan pursue any defamation proceedings against their political critics as well as the media. Although they wouldn’t be able to go legal over anything Nandy said in that particular speech, because it was delivered in the House Of Commons. Which means she was protected by parliamentary privilege and cannot be sued for defamation over anything said while in Parliament. 

​