In a timely demonstration of the BBC’s famous editorial instincts, Director-General Tim Davie was on-site at Glastonbury last weekend, charming staff and enjoying the festival atmosphere—entirely unaware that his own broadcaster was livestreaming a musical performance featuring chants of “Death to the IDF.”
The performance by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan took place on the West Holts Stage, cheerfully beamed to iPlayer audiences nationwide. It was only after the fact that Mr. Davie was informed of the minor on-air mishap—somewhere between discussing new commissioning strategies and probably deciding which artisanal food truck to visit next.
A BBC spokesperson insisted Mr. Davie was told after the event, at which point he made it clear that the performance should not appear in any further festival coverage. Unfortunately, this came several hours after it had already aired live.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, rarely one to mince words, called the entire affair a “national shame” and accused the BBC of “airing vile Jew-hatred.” Others have described the corporation’s response as “belated,” “mishandled,” and, in some cases, “inevitable.”
To the BBC’s credit, the performance was eventually pulled from iPlayer’s on-demand section. In the meantime, audiences were treated to a helpful on-screen warning about “discriminatory language,” which, for some, may have felt a bit like sticking a Post-it note on a bonfire saying “Caution: Fire.”
Ofcom expressed its own horror at the broadcaster’s decision-making process, and the Culture Secretary weighed in with accusations of leadership failure. Meanwhile, Glastonbury organisers—fresh from booking the act in the first place—issued their own condemnation, describing the performance as “appalling” and reassuring everyone that there’s “no place for hate speech at the festival.” Just, apparently, a stage and a live video feed.
As for Bob Vylan, whose frontman has since offered an Instagram lecture on inspiring future generations, the duo can now add revoked US visas to their list of post-Glastonbury accolades. The State Department made its position clear after the event, which had apparently crossed the Atlantic faster than the BBC’s editorial judgement.
Meanwhile, Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation. For now, the BBC promises to “learn lessons,” the Government demands “accountability,” and music fans everywhere are left wondering which bit of the next live broadcast will need an on-screen disclaimer.
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