US revokes visas of British rap punk duo Bob Vylan after controversial Glastonbury set

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"US Revokes Visas for British Band Bob Vylan Following Controversial Performance at Glastonbury"

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The US State Department has officially revoked the visas of the British rap punk duo Bob Vylan following a controversial performance at the Glastonbury music festival. During their set, the group led the audience in chants that included the phrase 'Death to the IDF', which refers to the Israel Defense Forces. This action has been characterized by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau as part of a broader policy aimed at curbing the entry of individuals who promote violence and hatred. Landau emphasized that the United States does not welcome foreigners who engage in such rhetoric, indicating a firm stance against anti-Semitism and perceived support for terrorism. Bob Vylan was scheduled to embark on a US tour beginning in late October, but this visa revocation has effectively canceled those plans, demonstrating the serious consequences of their actions at the festival.

The performance at Glastonbury sparked significant backlash from various officials in the UK, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who condemned the group's messages as 'appalling hate speech'. The incident has also drawn attention from British police, who are currently reviewing video footage of the performance to assess the situation further. In addition, the Israeli Embassy in the UK expressed its concerns, labeling the rhetoric used by Bob Vylan as 'inflammatory and hateful'. The band’s performance included a provocative display that criticized the media's portrayal of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, suggesting that the United Nations has labeled the situation as genocide while the BBC refers to it merely as a 'conflict'. The fallout from this incident underscores the complexities surrounding free speech in artistic expression, especially when it intersects with sensitive global issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict.

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Source URL: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/30/uk/bob-vylan-uk-band-glastonbury-us-visa-intl-latam

The US State Department has revoked the visas of members of Bob Vylan, a British rap punk group who chanted “Death to the IDF” at a UK music festival this weekend.

“The (State Department) has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X Monday.

The group was slated to go on a US tour beginning in late October, according to a post on Instagram.

The US State Department has instituted an aggressive visa restriction and revocation policy for alleged support of terrorism and anti-Semitism.

Bob Vylan’s chants at Glastonbury have also prompted outcry among top British officials, and British police are reviewing video footage of their set.

Rapper Bobby Vylan had taken to Glastonbury’s third-biggest West Holts Stage on Saturday, shouting “Free, free Palestine,” before leading crowds to chants against the Israeli military.

Video showed the rapper shouting into the mic, “Alright, but have you heard this one though? Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).”

The artist also performed in front of a screen that displayed a message which read: “United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict,’” referring to the UK’s public broadcaster that has been showing the festival live.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that “there is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech.”

The Israeli Embassy in the UK said it was “deeply disturbed” by what it called “inflammatory and hateful” rhetoric at the festival.

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Source: CNN