The State Department is looking to revoke the visa for Bobby Vylan, a British rap duo whose performance at a festival over the weekend went viral for his virulent anti-Israel lyrics that included a call for death to all Israeli soldiers.
A senior State Department official told The Daily Wire that it is “already looking at revocation” of their visas ahead of a roughly twenty-city tour through the United States, with performances planned in several major cities, including Washington, D.C.
“As a reminder, under the Trump Administration, the U.S. government will not issue visas to any foreigner who supports terrorists,” the senior official said.
Vocalist Pascal Robinson-Foster uses the stage name Bobby Vylan for his punk duo Bob Vylan—a name that nods to legendary Jewish singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, who released the pro-Israel song ‘Neighborhood Bully’ in 1983.
While performing at England’s annual Glastonbury Music Festival — which was live streamed on the BBC — Vylan incited his crowd of thousands to chant, “Death, death to the IDF.”
“Death, death to the IDF” chanted from the stage by Bob Vylan in front of 200k people at @glastonbury.
Tens of thousands singing happily along.
This is coming to NYC #ZohranForMayor pic.twitter.com/t6vtHVhNQa
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) June 28, 2025
“Free, Free Palestine,” Vylan chanted with the crowd at Britain’s biggest summer music festival. “But have you heard this one though? Death, death to the IDF! Death, death to the IDF!”
After repeating the chant several times, Vylan referenced another violent slogan: “Hell yeah, from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free.”
Following his remarks, StopAntisemitism called for Vylan to have his visa revoked ahead of his upcoming concerts in the United States for his Inertia Tour. He currently has concerts scheduled in New York City. Boston, Los Angeles, and Nashville, Tennessee.
CALIFORNIA EPA EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH THREATENING JEWS, ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE GUNS AND MONEY TO ISIS
“The antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded – his hate is not welcome here,” the StopAntisemitism wrote.
The chair of the Department of Justice’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, Leo Terrell, said his “first call” on Monday morning will be to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure Vylan cannot enter the United States.
“These abhorrent chants, which included calls for the death of members of the Israeli Defense Forces, are abhorrent and have no place in any civil society,” Terrell said in a statement. “We understand that Mr. Vylan is planning to travel to the United States as part of the Inertia Tour. In response, Mr. Terrell’s Task Force will be reaching out to the U.S. Department of State on Monday to determine what measures are available to address the situation and to prevent the promotion of violent antisemitic rhetoric in the United States.”
Avon and Somerset Police in the United Kingdom said they are investigating the duo’s performance and will determine “whether any offenses may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”
TRUMP HAS BEEN CLEAR FOR 14 YEARS THAT IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON
A spokesperson for Lisa Nandy, England’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said she “strongly” condemned Vylan’s “threatening comments” and demanded “an urgent explanation” from the BBC regarding its vetting process.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the chants “appalling hate speech.”
In a statement, the BBC conceded that “some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.”
“During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language,” the BBC added.
HAMAS IS PREPARING ATTACKS ON AMERICAN CONTRACTORS HELPING DISTRIBUTE AID IN GAZA
Vylan responded to the controversy in an Instagram post on Sunday saying that it is important to “encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”
“Let us display to them loudly and visibly the right thing to do when we want and need change,” he wrote. “Let them see us marching on the streets, campaigning on the ground level, organising online and shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered.”
Liora Rez, the executive director of StopAntisemitism, applauded the State Department preparing to take action against the musician who called for violence against the military of one of America’s strongest allies.
JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free
“StopAntisemitism is committed to doing everything in our power to ensure the United States does not follow the UK’s dangerous descent into institutionalized antisemitism,” Rez told The Daily Wire. “We are grateful to the State Department for swiftly prioritizing this matter and remain confident they will agree that individuals who promote such hatred have no place on American soil.”
Other songs performed at the festival — which was filled with Palestinian flags in the crown and one on stage, along with the slogan, “This country was built on the backs of immigrants” — sent the message that the United Kingdom has already been conquered by immigrants.
“I hear you want your country back,” Vylan says. “Well, shut the f*** up.”
The whole crowd is white. Singing about how they’ve been conquered and need to shut the fuck up. pic.twitter.com/5W8Pebv0ys
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) June 29, 2025
At the music festival, Irish rap group Kneecap, also performed and chanted “free Palestine,” being embroiled in controversy supporting Hezbollah—including one member who was charged under the Terrorism Act for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last November, according to the Associated Press.
