Bobby Vylan releases statement after Glastonbury performance prompts police investigation

Bob Vylan frontman Bobby Vylan has released a statement following a controversial performance at Glastonbury that’s now under police investigation.

During his set on the West Holts Stage on Saturday, June 28, the punk artist led the crowd in chants. He shouted “free, free Palestine” and “death, death to the IDF”. The comments have since triggered backlash from the festival, the BBC, and the authorities.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they are reviewing footage of the set. They said it’s “to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”

The BBC said parts of the performance were “deeply offensive.” Also, it had “no plans to make the performance available on demand.” Meanwhile, Glastonbury issued a statement saying Vylan’s comments “crossed a line.” The organisers stressed that “there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”

The festival added: “With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers whose views we do not share… However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts Stage.”

At first, Vylan responded by posting a selfie eating vegan ice cream with the caption: “While zionists are crying on socials.”

Bobby Vylan has released a statement

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A post shared by Bob Vylan (@bobbyvylan)

But now, he’s shared a full statement on Instagram. He captioned it: “I said what I said.”

He began by describing a moment with his daughter that gave him hope. While lying in bed, reading through a flood of messages, both angry and supportive, he heard her filling out a school survey. She said she wanted healthier meals and more global options at lunch.

That moment, he said, reminded him that “we may not be doomed after all.”

He went on to say that teaching young people to speak up is how change happens. “As we grow older and our fire possibly starts to dim,” he wrote, “it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”

He called on others to show younger people what standing up looks like, whether it’s marching in the streets, organising online, or using any stage offered to speak out.

“Today it is a change in school dinners, tomorrow it is a change in foreign policy,” he finished.

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