Staff who could have cut Bob Vylan feed were at Glastonbury, BBC boss says

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During Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance, the BBC had the ability to halt the live stream, according to director general Tim Davie. In a letter to the Commons’ culture select committee, Davie mentioned that stopping the broadcast was within the scope of those in attendance. The punk duo’s controversial chant of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]” sparked apologies from both the BBC and Glastonbury, as well as a police inquiry.

It was revealed that a few senior BBC staff members were instructed to refrain from their usual responsibilities following the incident. The BBC had previously acknowledged shortcomings, particularly regarding the band being categorized as “high risk” before their set. While the feed received warnings and was being monitored, it continued to air on iPlayer despite the derogatory remarks.

BBC chairman Samir Shah admitted that not ending the live feed was a misjudgment, especially in light of the criticism directed at the corporation’s handling of the situation. In response to questions from Dame Caroline Dinenage, Davie disclosed that 550 BBC employees were present at Glastonbury, with roles ranging from camera crew to compliance staff. Davie also confirmed that certain individuals on-site had the authority to cut the live stream after careful consideration, with access to advice offsite if needed.

During their performance, Bob Vylan’s singer, Pascal Robinson-Foster, addressed past experiences with a record label executive who supported Israel. The singer criticized the executive for attempting to cancel another group’s performance at Glastonbury. Following the attention on their set, Bob Vylan clarified in a statement that they were not advocating for harm towards any group but rather advocating for the dismantling of violent military entities. Avon and Somerset Police have initiated a criminal investigation into the band’s statements

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