Bob Vylan sue Irish broadcaster RTE over claims of “Anti-Semitic chants” at Glastonbury gig

Bob Vylan have sued RTE over its claims of “Anti-Semitic chants” during the duo’s show at Glastonbury 2025.

The punk-rap band have launched defamation proceedings against the Irish national broadcaster, following their gig at Vicar Street in Dublin last month.

• READ MORE: Bob Vylan: “We’ve been screaming about these topics at the top of our lungs for years. Why has it taken this long?”

As The Independent reports, High Court records show that legal documents were filed on Monday (December 8) by Phoenix Law, acting on behalf of Bob Vylan (aka Pascal Robinson-Foster and Wade Laurence George).

“The proceedings arise from a broadcast aired by RTE News following Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury Festival on June 28 2025,” the firm stated.

“During this broadcast, comments were made alleging that the lead singer of Bob Vylan led anti-Semitic chants. These allegations are categorically denied by our clients and are entirely untrue.”

Phoenix Law further clarified that the duo had made statements expressing support for Palestinian self-determination, and criticising the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

The Glastonbury 2025 set was broadcast live on the BBC and saw Bob Vylan lead the audience in chants of “death, death to the IDF” and “free, free Palestine”.

The law firm asserted that the remarks did not target Jewish people or express hatred towards any group. “The comments made were politically charged but not anti-Semitic in nature,” it said.

Solicitor Darragh Mackin, who is representing Bob Vylan, explained: “Our clients are no stranger to utilising their freedom of expression to speak out against the genocide in Gaza.

“There is however a fundamental distinction between speaking critically about the role of the Israeli state forces, and being anti-Semitic. The former is speech within the confines of political expression, whereas the latter is a form of hatred directed towards Jewish people.”

Per the report, RTE has stated that it does not comment on legal proceedings.

Bob Vylan’s performance at this summer’s Glastonbury led to a criminal investigation from Avon and Somerset Police, while multiple international shows were cancelled, and their US visas were revoked ahead of a tour in the country.

Two UK gigs, in Manchester and Leeds, have also been postponed until next year, “due to political pressure” from MPs and Jewish leaders.

In a previous statement, Bob Vylan said they were not calling for “the death of Jews or Arabs or any other race or group” at Glasto.

A police update last month confirmed that a man in his 30s had been interviewed by police over comments made on stage during a show by Bob Vylan at the festival.

Frontman Bobby Vylan (Pascal Robinson-Foster) explained in October that he was “not regretful” of his remarks at Glastonbury, adding: “I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays. I’m not regretful of it at all.”

Shortly after their set on the West Holts stage, Glasto organisers said they were “appalled” by Bob Vylan’s “death to IDF” chants.

The duo recently released their first new single since the controversy, ‘Sick Sad World’, where they called out Prime Minister Keir Starmer and “the BBC’s lies“. They wrapped up their run of 2025 ‘We Won’t Go Quietly’ UK and Ireland tour dates last week. The aforementioned postponed gigs in Manchester and Leeds will now take place in February.

They have also received an apology and were awarded substantial damages from Manchester Evening News, after the outlet published defamatory claims about a “Nazi salute” occurring at one of their gigs.

In other news, Jeremy Corbyn has shared his thoughts on Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s Palestine stance, saying the bands have expressed their beliefs “in a very good way”.

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