The U.S. State Department has revoked the N-towered visas of the British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan. This decision was made in response to the controversial chant that frontman Bobby Vylan led the audience in shouting “Death, death to the IDF” at the Glastonbury Festival. The performance was deemed to be inciting violence and hatred by U.S. officials, who stated that such rhetoric is unacceptable for visitors to America.
A criminal investigation has been initiated by the Avon and Somerset Police in the United Kingdom, who have classified the chants as a potential public order offense. The BBC, which initially broadcast the performance live, acknowledged that it should have cut the feed and removed the footage afterward, while Glastonbury organizers conveyed that the performance “crossed the line.”
The conduct was also condemned by British leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who characterized it as overt hate speech. The action has prompted a broader discussion regarding the limitations of free expression at global cultural events and the potential repercussions that artists may encounter, such as visa cancellations and legal investigations.