The BBC acknowledged on Monday that they should have cut the live stream of Bob Billan’s Glastonbury performance when the punk rap duo began chanting “anti-Semitic” calls against Israeli forces.
There was considerable debate about continuing to air their performance on Saturday, especially after the crowd was encouraged to shout “death to IDF.”
Although the BBC, which annually broadcasts the festival, displayed a warning during the live stream, they later admitted they could have taken stronger action.
“The anti-Semitic remarks made by Bob Bilan are simply unacceptable, and we should not have allowed them on air,” the broadcaster stated.
“The team was managing a live situation, but in retrospect, the stream should have been cut during that performance,” the BBC further explained.
“I regret that this didn’t happen,” the organization added.
They emphasized their commitment to freedom of expression while firmly opposing any calls for violence.
In related news, the Trump administration is reportedly weighing the option of revoking the group’s visa ahead of their fall tour in the U.S.
“As a reminder, under this administration, the U.S. will not grant visas to anyone promoting terrorism,” an official noted.
Additionally, police in the UK are contemplating whether to initiate an investigation following the performance. Avon and Somerset police stated that they would assess the video evidence to determine if any criminal activity occurred during the show.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer, along with Glastonbury organizers, expressed their disappointment over the incident, condemning the antics on stage.
Starmer remarked, “There is no justification for such hateful speech. I mentioned that KneeCap shouldn’t be given a platform as it could encourage violence from other performers.” He further questioned the BBC about how these scenes could be broadcast.
