US revokes visas of anti-Israeli military British rap duo Bob Vylan
(MENAFN)
The United States has canceled the visas of British punk-rap group Bob Vylan following their controversial set at the Glastonbury Festival, where frontman Bobby Vylan led chants deemed by many as antisemitic and inciting violence. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the revocation on Monday, citing concerns over hate speech.
The United States has canceled the visas of British punk-rap group Bob Vylan following their controversial set at the Glastonbury Festival, where frontman Bobby Vylan led chants deemed by many as antisemitic and inciting violence. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the revocation on Monday, citing concerns over hate speech.
During their Friday performance, Vylan encouraged the crowd to shout slogans like “Death, death to the IDF” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free.” The US State Department viewed the chants as promoting hatred and violence, which they said violated the acceptable standards for foreign visitors.
Landau wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the band’s rhetoric was unacceptable. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce defended the visa revocation as a security measure, stating, “Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
When questioned about the public nature of the decision—typically a confidential matter—Bruce said the band’s actions were so public that the response needed to be equally visible. She also dismissed accusations of censorship, arguing that the issue was about upholding national values and ensuring public safety, not restricting artistic freedom.
The group was scheduled for a 20-show tour in the US this October. However, they’ve since been dropped by their talent agency, United Talent, and are under police investigation in the UK. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy condemned the performance, while the BBC removed the set from its streaming platform, admitting it should have cut the feed earlier.
Despite the backlash, Bobby Vylan defended his performance on social media, stressing the importance of speaking out and inspiring future generations to stand up for change.
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