The BBC has confirmed that the punk band Bob Vylan was categorized as “high risk” ahead of their performance at Glastonbury over the weekend. The organization expressed support for Director General Tim Davie, who took prompt steps amidst the controversy.
In a statement, BBC Chair Samir Shah and Davie issued apologies to “viewers, listeners, and particularly the Jewish community” in light of the situation. The BBC highlighted that Bob Vylan was among seven acts considered appropriate for live streaming, albeit under specific mitigations due to their “high risk” classification.
The BBC stated, “Prior to Glastonbury, a decision was taken that compliance risks could be mitigated in real time on the live stream – through the use of language or content warnings – without the need for a delay. This was clearly not the case.”
Moving forward, the BBC announced that any acts categorized as high risk will not be broadcast or streamed live. The corporation also assured that editorial policy support will be readily available at major music festivals and events.
In response to the acknowledged shortcomings, the BBC committed to ensuring accountability for those responsible for the errors made during the live broadcast. They added, “We will not comment further on those processes at this time.”
The BBC conveyed regret over their decision not to cut Bob Vylan’s live stream, remarking that warnings had appeared on the stream twice and that the editorial team opted against disconnecting the feed. The team focused on preventing the performance from being available on demand, even as the duo chanted “death to the IDF” and voiced frustrations about working for a “f***ing Zionist.” As a result, they are currently under police investigation, have been dropped by UTA, and their U.S. visas have been revoked.
The acknowledgment of Bob Vylan’s previous “high risk” designation is likely to intensify scrutiny on Davie and his leadership team. It has come to light that Davie was present during both Bob Vylan’s and the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap’s performance and played a crucial role in the decision to remove Bob Vylan’s performance from iPlayer.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has indicated that the BBC is facing a “problem of leadership” following the Glastonbury incident, yet Shah and the board expressed their full support for Davie. Shah shared that the board convened on Tuesday to discuss the corrective actions being implemented, including enhanced editorial practices for live music programming.
“The Board fully supports the Director-General and the swift actions taken by him and his team to identify these errors and address them,” Shah stated. He extended apologies to “all our viewers and listeners and particularly the Jewish community for allowing the ‘artist’ Bob Vylan to express unconscionable antisemitic views live on the BBC.”
This week, Davie has extended an offer to meet with Jewish staff members, many of whom have voiced their outrage over the incident. He also awaits a report regarding the contentious documentary, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, as pressures continue to mount.
In a note sent to staff, he expressed regret for the “offensive and deplorable behaviour appearing on the BBC,” stating, “I want to say sorry – to our audience and to all of you, but in particular to Jewish colleagues and the Jewish community. We are unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at the BBC. I and everyone need to ensure that the BBC is a role model for inclusivity and tolerance and we all have a part to play. We are utterly committed to creating an environment where everyone is supported and can do their very best work. Please continue to treat each other with respect and kindness.”
