{"id":68902,"date":"2025-07-04T01:37:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T01:37:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=68902"},"modified":"2025-07-04T01:37:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T01:37:49","slug":"bbc-senior-staff-told-to-step-back-from-duties-following-row","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=68902","title":{"rendered":"BBC senior staff told to \u2018step back\u2019 from duties following row"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The BBC has told a small number of senior staff to step back from their day-to-day duties on music and live events, following the broadcast of Bob Vylan\u2019s controversial Glastonbury set.<\/p>\n

The punk duo led a chant of \u201cdeath, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]\u201d and made other derogatory comments during their performance, which was available to watch via a live stream on iPlayer.<\/p>\n

In a statement,<\/a>\u00a0the BBC said there was \u201cno place for antisemitism\u201d in its output, and that it was taking action to \u201censure proper accountability for those found to be responsible\u201d for the broadcast.<\/p>\n

The BBC also said Bob Vylan were one of seven Glastonbury acts it had deemed \u201chigh risk\u201d in advance of the festival.<\/p>\n

The broadcaster said it would make \u201cimmediate changes to livestreaming music events\u201d, so that \u201cany music performances deemed high risk by the BBC will now not be broadcast live or streamed live\u201d in the future.<\/p>\n

The corporation\u2019s chair, Samir Shah, said the decision not to pull the live feed was \u201cunquestionably an error of judgement\u201d.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Thursday, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the House of Commons she was unsatisfied with the BBC\u2019s response after she had asked questions about due diligence, senior oversight, and the delay in pulling the live feed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the seriousness of what happened, and particularly we heard in the House the absolute shocking stories of the impact this has had on the Jewish community in this country \u2013 given the seriousness of this, I would expect there to be accountability at the highest levels [of the BBC],\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew said the BBC\u2019s \u201cbelated response suggests a lack of vigilance and proper oversight\u201d, adding the BBC has \u201cclear responsibilities when broadcasting live events\u201d.<\/p>\n

The BBC has also been criticised by the UK\u2019s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, while media regulator Ofcom said the corporation had \u201cquestions to answer\u201d.<\/p>\n

Davie said he \u201cdeeply regrets that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During their Glastonbury set, Bob Vylan\u2019s singer Pascal Robinson-Foster, who performs under the stage name Bobby Vylan, also spoke about a record label boss he used to work for.<\/p>\n

That boss would \u201cspeak very strongly about his support for Israel\u201d, and had put his name to a letter urging Glastonbury to cancel Irish-language rap trio Kneecap\u2019s performance, the musician said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho do I see on that list of names but that bald-headed [expletive] I used to work for. We\u2019ve done it all, all right? From working in bars to working for [expletive] Zionists.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a message to staff on Thursday, director general Tim Davie said: \u201cI deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to say sorry \u2013 to our audience and to all of you, but in particular to Jewish colleagues and the Jewish community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The BBC said Bob Vylan had been deemed high risk following a risk assessment process applied to all acts appearing at Glastonbury.<\/p>\n

The duo, along with six other acts, were included in this category, but the BBC said they \u201cwere all deemed suitable for live streaming with appropriate mitigations\u201d.<\/p>\n

The statement continued: \u201cPrior to Glastonbury, a decision was taken that compliance risks could be mitigated in real time on the live stream \u2013 through the use of language or content warnings \u2013 without the need for a delay. This was clearly not the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

The BBC noted that the live stream was monitored \u201cin line with the agreed compliance protocols and a number of issues were escalated\u201d.<\/p>\n

Warnings appeared on the stream on two occasions, but, the BBC added: \u201cThe editorial team took the decision not to cut the feed. This was an error.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davie, who was attending Glastonbury himself on the day, was \u201csubsequently made aware of what had happened and instructed the team that none of the performance should feature in further coverage\u201d.<\/p>\n

The BBC said the team on duty prioritised stopping the performance from becoming available on demand, meaning that the set would not appear separately on iPlayer or BBC Sounds.<\/p>\n

However, the live feed remained available for more than four hours, which meant viewers were able to rewind and view the content.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the failings that have been acknowledged, we are taking actions to ensure proper accountability for those found to be responsible for those failings in the live broadcast,\u201d the BBC said. \u201cWe will not comment further on those processes at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement,\u00a0Shah apologised<\/a>\u00a0\u201cto all our viewers and listeners and particularly the Jewish community for allowing the \u2018artist\u2019 Bob Vylan to express unconscionable antisemitic views live on the BBC\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was unquestionably an error of judgement,\u201d he added. \u201cI was very pleased to note that as soon as this came to the notice of Tim Davie \u2013 who was on the Glastonbury site at the time visiting BBC staff \u2013 he took immediate action and instructed the team to withdraw the performance from on demand coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since Glastonbury,\u00a0Bob Vylan have had several bookings cancelled,<\/a>\u00a0including festival appearances in Manchester and France and a slot in Germany.<\/p>\n

In response to the cancellations, the band reiterated their position, telling followers: \u201cSilence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Avon and Somerset Police have launched a criminal investigation into their Glastonbury comments.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, London\u2019s Metropolitan Police said the band are also under investigation for comments they allegedly made during a concert at Alexandra Palace in May.<\/p>\n

After the media coverage of their comments, Bob Vylan said in a statement on Tuesday: \u201cWe 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\u201d.<\/p>\n

They added that \u201cwe, 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\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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