Why did English punk duo Bob Vylan's visas get revoked by the State Department?
- The State Department revoked the visas of British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan after they led chants deemed antisemitic at the Glastonbury music festival.
- Bob Vylan's U.S. tour, scheduled to begin in October, has been effectively canceled.
- The band's frontman defended his actions on social media, emphasizing the importance of speaking up for change.
The State Department revoked visas for members of Britain's Bob Vylan punk-rap duo after they led chants during their set at the Glastonbury music festival in England over the weekend. The U.S. government and the BBC, which broadcast the event, said the language was antisemitic.
"In light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants ... foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau posted on social media on June 30.
The BBC issued a warning on screen for strong language while the set was being streamed online, but it acknowledged that it should have gone further. During Bob Vylan's set, he led the audience in chants including "death, death to the IDF, "referring to the Israel Defense Forces fighting a war in Gaza.
Law enforcement is investigating "comments made on stage" for possible public order offenses, including hate crimes, after reviewing video footage and audio from their performances, the Avon and Somerset regional police force told Reuters.
Bob Vylan, known for mixing grime and punk rock, tackles a range of issues including racism, homophobia, and the class divide in their songs and have previously voiced support for Palestinians.
Their lead vocalist, who goes by the stage name Bobby Vylan, appeared to refer to the weekend performance in a post on Instagram, writing: "I said what I said."
"Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place," he added.
Bob Vylan was scheduled to kick off a U.S. tour on Oct. 24 in Spokane, Washington, with gigs in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, St. Louis, Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, San Diego, San Antonio and Los Angeles, as first reported by NBC News.
Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.