BBC partly upholds complaints over Bob Vylan set

The BBC’s broadcast of Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury Festival breached the corporation’s editorial standards in relation to harm and offence, its Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) has found.

The outspoken punk duo caused controversy when they chanted for the “death” of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) at the Somerset festival in June, which was livestreamed by the broadcaster.

The ECU received four complaints about the performance relating to incitement to violence, terrorism or ethnic cleansing, hate speech and expressions of antisemitism.

Its ruling, which was published on Thursday, was largely made based on the group’s frontman leading the crowds in chants of “death, death to the IDF” as well as reciting the slogans, “From the river to the sea” and “Free, free Palestine”.

The ruling also referenced when the same group member described the boss of a record company “in the most abusive terms” and referring to “f****** Zionists” as it breached the guidelines of harm and offence that describe using “unduly intimidating, humiliating, intrusive, aggressive or derogatory remarks aimed at real people”.

The ruling, however, cleared the corporation of breaching its guidelines relating to material that is likely to encourage or incite crime.

The ECU said: “In the context of a performance at a music festival, the chanting of slogans can be regarded as primarily an invitation to endorse a particular attitude.

“References to ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘From the river to the sea’, while viewed by some as implying the disappearance of the state of Israel, can also be regarded as no more than expressions of support for aspirations to a Palestinian state and do not of themselves threaten violent action.

“’Death, death to the IDF’ is clearly more problematic, but it is directed at an institution rather than individuals, and one which is not defined by ethnic or religious composition.”

It further characterised the comments made about the record boss as “antisemitic”.

The ECU said: “Although Bob Vylan referred to ‘Zionists’ rather than ‘Jews’, that appeared to the ECU to be a distinction with very little difference in this instance.

“The ECU therefore shares the view that the content of this act, taken in the round, can fairly be characterised as antisemitic.”

The ruling cleared the BBC of breaching its standards of impartiality, stating that the coverage of the festival is not in line with coverage of news and current affairs.

The ECU said: “While there may be festivals the BBC would not cover on account of their polemical character, a wide tolerance for expressions of opinion by performers or audiences would be in keeping with audience expectations for events it does cover.

“While recognising there is widespread disagreement with the political views expressed by Bob Vylan on this occasion, the ECU did not consider they represented a breach of the BBC’s standards of impartiality in this context.”

Following the performance the corporation issued an apology to viewers, especially the Jewish community and promised to take action to “ensure proper accountability”.

The BBC has been contacted for comment.