Bob Vylan Removed From Europe Festivals After Glastonbury Controversy

Bob Vylan will no longer perform at England’s Radar Festival and France’s Kave Fest as fallout from their Glastonbury Festival appearance continues. The rap duo were denounced by Glastonbury organizers for leading the crowd in chanting, “Free, free Palestine,” as well as “Death, death to the IDF” during their set over the weekend.

“Silence is not an option,” Bob Vylan wrote on Instagram in response to the Radar Festival cancellation. “We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester we will be back.”

Earlier this week, the duo’s U.S. visas were revoked ahead of their North America tour. They were also dropped by the United Talent Agency. Kave Fest in particular pointed to the agency split as the reasoning behind Bob Vylan being removed from the lineup.

“In light of recent events, Bob Vylan have been dropped by their agent. The Eure department and the city of Gisors have informed us they will oppose Bob Vylan’s presence at Kave Fest,” organizers shared in a social media statement. “This is forcing us to cancel Bob Vylan’s appearance at Kave Fest this year. We fully support freedom of expression for ALL artists around the world. Our thoughts are with the victims of war in Palestine and their families. We stand firmly against all acts of war and hatred.”

Bob Vylan has also been blocked from opening for the U.S.-based band Gogol Bordello in Germany later this year by the Live Music Hall venue.

On Tuesday, the duo shared a statement on Instagram to clarify the “Death to the IDF” chant, which specifically called out the violence of the Israel Defense Forces. “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine,” they wrote. “A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza. We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”