Bob Vylan leading a chant of “Death to the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces]” at Glastonbury Festival was "absolutely hate speech" and ‘crossed a line’, Ciara Kelly has said.
The punk duo have been widely condemned for their performance, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelling them “appalling” and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis describing them as “deeply disturbing”.
With Palestinian casaulties in Gaza estimated in the tens of thousands, Bobby Vylan posted on Instagram that the pair have been "inundated" with messages of both "support and hatred".
View this post on Instagram
On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Shane Coleman said he felt “sympathetic” towards Glastonbury staff.
“Look, they knew he was a controversial character, they didn’t know he was going to go on and say that,” he said.
“But I’m looking at the British broadsheets… they’re asking the question, why wasn’t he pulled straight away? Why did they let it go on?”
Shane added that deciding where exactly the line lies between artist expression and hate is a "tricky issue”.
“I don’t agree with censorship, I don’t agree with not allowing artists to perform,” he said.
“I actually think you’re making them into martyrs when you do that - but he went too far.”
Bob Vylan performing during the Glastonbury Festival. Picture by: Matt Crossick/Empics/Alamy Live News.Co-presenter Ciara Kelly described herself as “very pro free speech”, but noted there are limits.
“I didn’t even like our hate speech legislation because I think it could have a chilling effect,” she said.
“I think you should be allowed to express yourself, even if what you say is objectionable, even if it is offensive - right the way up to hate speech.
“But I think calling for the death of somebody is absolutely hate speech.”
Ciara added that, “I think this could be construed as incitement and I think that’s where the line is crossed.”
Main image: Bob Vylan and Ciara Kelly. Picture by: Alamy.com.
