Bob Vylan faces ban from US after ‘death to the IDF’ chant during Glastonbury set
Marco Rubio’s US State Department is understood to be reviewing whether to revoke the visa of Pascal Robinson-Foster – frontman of UK rap duo Bob Vylan – following chants of “death to the IDF” during the band’s Glastonbury Festival performance.
Robinson-Foster, known on stage as Bobby Vylan, and his bandmate are due to tour the United States in October, supporting anti-Trump rapper Grandson on The Inertia Tour.
The move comes amid pressure from Republican lawmakers and advocacy groups.
A senior State Department official told The Daily Caller: “As a reminder, under the Trump Administration, the US government will not issue visas to any foreigner who supports terrorists.”
The account StopAntisemitism also called for action, writing: “Bob Vylan (legal name Pascal Robinson-Foster) called for the death of the IDF yesterday at @glastonbury.
“He’s coming to the US this fall as part of the Inertia Tour. This antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded – his hate is not welcome here.”
In response, Republican Congressman Randy Fine said he was “on it”.
The controversy began when the group took to Glastonbury’s West Holts Stage on Saturday in a performance broadcast live by the BBC.
Ahead of the Irish rap group Kneecap – who were pulled from the BBC’s coverage due to a member being charged with a terror offense – Bob Vylan’s set featured a large message on screen.
It read: “Free Palestine. United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict’.”
The band then led the crowd in chants of “Free Free Palestine” and “Death, Death to the IDF.”
Robinson-Foster also told the audience: “From the river to the sea Palestine must be, will be, free.”
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The performance sparked widespread backlash, prompting UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to demand an “urgent explanation” from BBC Director-General Tim Davie over the decision to stream the set.
A Government spokesperson said: “We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance, and welcomes the decision not to re-broadcast it on BBC iPlayer.”
The BBC responded: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
Footage of the performance has since been removed from the BBC’s iPlayer platform.
Glastonbury also released a statement condemning the performance, writing “there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
Robinson-Foster also used his stage time to reflect on his own industry experience and support for Palestine.
“Recently a list was released of people trying to stop our mates Kneecap from performing here today. And who do I see on that fing list, but that bald-headed c I used to fing work for,” he said, referring to a former colleague at a record label.
The comments were met with boos from parts of the crowd.
He added: “So look, we have done it all, from working in bars to working for fing Zionists. So if we can do this, you can do absolutely anything that you put your mind to… Don’t give up on your dreams, and if you’ve got to go to that s***ty job to pay your bills and pay your rent you do what you’ve got to do to survive in this world.”
He later criticised Western foreign policy and framed the band’s message as a necessary act of protest. “We are not pacifist punks here over at Bob Vylan Enterprises. We are the violent punks, because sometimes, you have to get your message across with violence because that is the only language some people speak.”
On Sunday night, the band responded to the backlash in a lengthy Instagram post, which appeared to be written by Robinson-Foster.
The post read: “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.
“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.”
The caption read: “I said what I said.”