British punk rap duo Bob Bilan has reiterated their anti-Israel stance following backlash from their performance at the Glastonbury Music Festival over the weekend. In a post on Instagram, they expressed feeling “targeted” after the criticism, which included remarks about their anti-Israel slogans, denouncing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). They emphasized their intent to advocate for human life and freedom of speech.
“Our goal is to speak up. We are not the first to do this, and we won’t be the last,” the post stated. Bob Bilan clarified that they do not promote violence against any group but rather oppose militaristic violence against innocent civilians, particularly citing destruction in Gaza.
During their set, one member of the London-based group called out phrases like “Death to the IDF,” prompting crowd chants, while videos from the event showed Palestinian flags and audience participation in similar slogans. They also chants included calls for Palestinian freedom.
The group’s performance has now garnered attention on social media, with complaints reaching the UK government. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled their messages as “hateful speech.” The BBC, which broadcast the festival, has removed Bob Bilan’s set from its platform and issued a warning regarding the language used during the live stream.
In response, the Glastonbury Festival organizers criticized the performance, stating the festival was meant for unity through music and art. Meanwhile, British police are reviewing footage from the performance to see if any laws were broken.
Amidst the controversy, the US State Department has canceled the band’s visa ahead of a planned tour, with officials stating they will not grant visas to those perceived as terrorists or sympathizers. The band, however, characterized the backlash against them as a diversion from the more significant issues at hand, emphasizing the plight of those in Gaza and questioning the government’s silence on such matters.
