POLL: Should rapper Bob Vylan be jailed for chanting 'Death to the IDF' at Glastonbury?

A performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival has triggered a national debate after rapper Bobby Vylan, real name Pascal Robinson-Foster, repeatedly chanted "Death, death to the IDF" during a live BBC broadcast from the West Holts stage. The performance is now under police review amid concerns the chant could constitute hate speech or incitement to violence.

The controversial moment took place during a politically charged set by the rap duo Bob Vylan, drawing attention not only from festivalgoers but also from across the political spectrum and media regulators. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they are "assessing the footage" to determine whether any criminal offences occurred.

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Robinson-Foster's chant, directed at the Israeli Defence Forces, was part of a broader pro-Palestinian message woven throughout the set.

The artist led the crowd in a chant, beginning with "Free, free," to which the audience replied "Palestine," before escalating to the now-controversial refrain targeting the IDF.

While some in the audience cheered the statements, others, both at the festival and watching online, expressed concern.

Among them was a reporter present in the crowd, who described the atmosphere as "charged" and "unsettling" as chants rippled through the crowd and red paint was sprayed from a fire extinguisher into the air.

Glastonbury organisers issued a statement on Sunday condemning the incident.

"The chants made during this set very much crossed a line," said co-organiser Emily Eavis.

"There is no place at Glastonbury for anti-Semitism, hate speech, or incitement to violence."

Criticism of the performance has since grown, with politicians across parties and campaign groups weighing in.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "It seems very clear that this man was directly inciting violence. He should receive the same treatment under the law as others who have been prosecuted for hate speech."

A BBC spokesperson acknowledged that some comments in the set were "deeply offensive," but noted that a warning had been displayed on-screen during the livestream. "We have no plans to make the performance available on demand," they added.

The BBC is also facing scrutiny for airing the set unedited.

Legal complaints have been filed by organisations such as UK Lawyers for Israel, who argue that the broadcast itself may have violated laws against incitement to racial hatred. Ofcom confirmed it had not yet taken action and reminded complainants to contact the BBC directly first, in line with standard procedures.

In response to mounting pressure, the BBC pulled the livestream of the next act, Irish rap group Kneecap, whose politically provocative content had already raised concerns.

The group had been the subject of pre-festival debate, with one member facing an unrelated charge related to a different performance.

This incident has also attracted international attention. Israel's deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, called the broadcast "an absolute disgrace," while the Israeli embassy in London warned that it risked "normalising extremist language."

She said: "I condemn the BBC. They actually continued to live-stream anti-Israel hate speech. What do you think the BBC would have done had a performer been shouting anti-Muslim or far-Right hate speeches? They would have pulled the plug immediately."