BBC director of music steps down from duties amid Bob Vylan controversy
The BBC director of music has stepped down from her duties after controversy over the broadcaster’s decision to stream Bob Vylan‘s Glastonbury Festival set live.
During their Glastonbury set, the punk duo led the crowd through a chant of “Death to the IDF,” referencing the Israel Defence Forces. They also chanted “Free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea”. Meanwhile, the pair displayed messaging that slammed the BBC for complicity in the conflict in the Middle East. One message read, “United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC call it a ‘conflict’.”
In a statement released on July 3rd, the BBC revealed that it will no longer broadcast “high-risk” performances live after a criminal investigation was launched into Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set. They admitted to making serious errors in the lead-up to the performance, as well as during the set, which took place on the West Holts stage on June 28th.
In the statement, they also blamed the editorial team working on the set at the time, stating, “During the performance, the live stream was monitored in line with the agreed compliance protocols, and a number of issues were escalated. Warnings appeared on the stream on two occasions, and the editorial team decided not to cut the feed. This was an error.”
Lorna Clarke, BBC’s head of music, has reportedly stepped back from her responsibilities, The TImes reported. Her responsibilities included overseeing six radio networks and live music events; she will relinquish duties while an investigation occurs.
Clarke is not the only BBC worker under scrutiny amid the controversy. Allegedly, a small group of other senior BBC staff responsible for music and live events are also said to have temporarily relinquished their roles.
Bob Vylan have faced intense backlash since the performance, but remain defiant. Kave Fest in France and Radar Festival in Manchester have confirmed that they will no longer host Bob Vylan, and a venue in Cologne will no longer let the band support Gogol Bordello in September. This comes after the Trump administration revoked their US visas, which will prevent them from hitting the road with their grandson later this year. They have also been dropped by the UTA talent agency, as an official police investigation has been launched into their performance.
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