Bob Vylan's Visas Revoked by U.S. State Department After Glastonbury Performance

The U.S. State Department has taken action against the British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, revoking their visas. This decision follows a performance at England's Glastonbury Music Festival where the band members reportedly called for the death of the Israel Defense Forces.

The band, consisting of Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan, was scheduled to tour the United States in 2025. However, the State Department announced the visa revocations on Monday, citing the band's actions at the festival. A senior State Department official confirmed the decision, stating that the U.S. would not grant visas to those who sympathize with terrorism.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously warned that visas would be rescinded for individuals deemed to be terrorists or those associated with them. He referenced a previous incident in Boulder, Colorado, where he stated that visas would be revoked for any terrorists, their family members, and sympathizers.

During the Glastonbury performance, Bobby Vylan also led chants supporting Palestine, including the phrase "from the river to the sea." In response to the band's actions, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the speech as "appalling hate speech." Bobby Vylan later appeared to stand by his statements, posting on social media, "I said what I said."

The BBC also issued a statement apologizing for broadcasting the performance live and condemning the antisemitic chants. The BBC acknowledged that while they respect freedom of expression, they firmly oppose incitement to violence and found the band's sentiments unacceptable.