Bob Vylan dropped from Manchester's Radar Festival after Glastonbury controversy
British rap-punk duo Bob Vylan has been removed from the lineup of Manchester’s Radar Festival following widespread backlash to comments made during their performance at Glastonbury Festival 2025. The group was scheduled to headline the event at Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, but festival organizers announced via social media that the band will no longer appear.
Bob Vylan axed from Manchester's Radar Festival after Glastonbury chant controversy. More festival bookings canceled amid political fallout.
Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images
The cancellation comes amid ongoing fallout from the duo’s controversial set on Glastonbury’s West Holts stage, during which they chanted “death, death to the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces],” sparking accusations of antisemitism and incitement to violence.
Glastonbury co-organizer Emily Eavis condemned the statement as “utterly unacceptable,” while the BBC, which livestreamed the event, admitted it should have pulled the broadcast during the performance. “We regret this did not happen,” the broadcaster said, acknowledging that antisemitic sentiments had been aired live.
The controversy has led to additional fallout. A spokesperson for Kave Fest in France confirmed that Bob Vylan’s scheduled appearance this Sunday has been canceled, and a planned concert in Germany this September will also no longer go ahead. The United Talent Agency (UTA) dropped the band earlier this week, and their U.S. visas have reportedly been revoked.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the onstage comments “appalling hate speech,” emphasizing the government's stance against incitement.
In response to the backlash, Bob Vylan posted a statement on Instagram on Tuesday, claiming they were being “targeted for speaking up.”
“We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people,” the band said. “We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine.”
They also urged the public not to focus solely on them, saying, “We are a distraction from the story, and whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”
Despite being dropped from multiple festivals, the group assured fans: “Manchester, we will be back.”
This year’s Glastonbury Festival saw heightened political expression, with numerous artists using their platforms to voice personal and global concerns. American pop star Olivia Rodrigo concluded the festival with a headline set that steered clear of political messaging, offering a contrast to the controversies that had unfolded earlier in the week.
