Complaints over Vylan BBC show are upheld

THE BBC’s broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance at Glastonbury Festival breached the corporation’s editorial standards in relation to harm and offence, its Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) has found.

- LAUREN DEL FABBRO

Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage, at the Glastonbury Festival

The punk duo caused controversy when they chanted for the “death” of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) at the Somerset festival in June, which was live streamed by the broadcaster.

The ECU received four complaints about the performance relating to incitement to violence, terrorism or ethnic cleansing, hate speech and expressions of antisemitism.

Its ruling, which was published on Thursday, was largely made based on the group's frontman leading the crowds in chants of “death, death to the IDF” as well as reciting the slogans, “From the river to the sea” and “Free, free Palestine”.