The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has apologized for broadcasting anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by the punk/rap duo Bob Vylan during their performance at the Glastonbury Festival. The incident has ignited a debate regarding artistic freedom of expression and the responsibilities of event organizers and broadcasters.

The controversy stems from slogans chanted by Bob Vylan during their performance, including “Death, death to the IDF,” a direct condemnation of the Israel Defense Forces. Additionally, the audience joined in chanting “from the river to the sea,” a phrase widely regarded as a call for the elimination of the State of Israel and considered anti-Semitic by many.

The Israeli Embassy in the UK has voiced its concern over what it perceives as a normalization of extremist language and the glorification of violence. Glastonbury Festival and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have also condemned the statements made from the stage.

The BBC, which streamed the concert on BBC iPlayer, has since removed the footage. Furthermore, the corporation issued an apology, stating that the anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were “completely unacceptable and have no place on our radio or television.” The BBC also announced a review of its guidelines for live streaming events to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Ofcom, the UK’s independent media regulator, has stated that the BBC “clearly has some questions to answer” regarding the broadcast, as it was not interrupted or censored.

Roskilde Festival also commented on the situation, stating that while they support artistic freedom of expression and artists using their platform, they do not tolerate hate speech or incitement to violence. The festival added that any such instances would be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine the most appropriate course of action.