LONDON (AP) — Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan on Tuesday rejected claims of antisemitism over onstage comments at the Glastonbury Festival that triggered a police investigation and sparked criticism from politicians, the BBC and festival organizers.
The band said in a statement that it was being “targeted for speaking up” about the war in Gaza.
Police are investigating whether a crime was committed when frontman Bob Vylan led the audience in chants of “Death to the IDF” — the Israel Defense Forces — during the band’s set at the festival in southwest England on Saturday.
The British government called the chants “appalling hate speech” and the BBC said it regretted livestreaming the “antisemitic sentiments.” U.S. authorities revoked the musicians’ visas.
Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has inflamed tensions around the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in many capitals and on college campuses. Israel and some supporters have described the protests as antisemitic, while critics say Israel uses such descriptions to silence opponents.
In a statement on Instagram, Bob Vylan said: “We 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. … A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
Alleging that “we are a distraction from the story,” the duo added: “We are being targeted for speaking up.”
The BBC is under pressure to explain why it did not cut the feed of the performance after the anti-IDF chants. Britain’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said “the airing of vile Jew-hatred” by the BBC was a moment of “national shame.”
“It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it,” he wrote on X.
Avon and Somerset Police said it is investigating Bob Vylan’s performance, along with that by Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, whose pro-Palestinian stance has also attracted controversy. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged under Britain’s Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last year.
Since the war began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, Israel has killed more than 56,000 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Bob Vylan performs on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
Bob Vylan perform on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset. England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
CHICAGO (AP) — Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez will miss next week's All-Star Game after he was placed on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a left groin strain.
The IL stint for Suarez was made retroactive to Monday, a day after he left with two outs in the third inning in Boston's 7-5 victory at the Los Angeles Angels. The left-hander is 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 17 starts in his first season after signing a $130 million, five-year contract with the Red Sox in free agency.
The 30-year-old Suarez was scheduled to pitch again on Saturday at the New York Mets.
“He is showing some improvement, but not enough to where, if there's still some soreness and tightness in there, not enough to where we're feeling comfortable he's going to be able to go Saturday,” interim manager Chad Tracy said.
Tracy said the team is considering several options for the start at New York, including Brayan Bello, who was optioned to Triple-A Worcester last month. With the All-Star break coming up, the Red Sox also could go with a bullpen game.
Suarez also was an All-Star in 2024, but he missed the game because of back stiffness. This year's Midsummer Classic is on Tuesday in Philadelphia, where Suarez spent his first eight big league seasons.
“Obviously sad. I wanted to be able to go there, represent my team and also enjoy the moment,” Suarez said through a translator. “But I think the best thing for me is to take care of my body and that's what I'm going to do.”
Suarez could be replaced on the AL team by Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray, who is 10-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts. Suarez said he is hopeful about coming off the IL as soon as he is eligible after the break.
“The four days that we have break, I'm going to do treatment and I hope I'm not going to lose any (starts), but we'll see how it goes,” he said.
The Red Sox had won five in a row and 10 of 12 overall going into their series finale at the Chicago White Sox.
All-Star slugger Willson Contreras was out of the starting lineup after he fouled a ball off his left foot during Wednesday night's 5-0 victory. But second baseman Anthony Seigler was leading off a day after a collision with catcher Kyle Teel at the plate.
“Just sore,” Tracy said of Contreras. “So we’ll let him rest today, get a bunch of treatment, see where we're at.”
Infielder Brett Harris was recalled from Worcester, and he started in Contreras' place at first base. The 28-year-old Harris was acquired in a trade with the Athletics on July 1 after he was designated for assignment.
Harris hit a grand slam during a minor league doubleheader on Wednesday and then received word he was going up to the Red Sox.
“I just got to know most of the guys in Triple-A and now I got to restart the process here. But I’m excited,” Harris said.
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Boston Red Sox pitcher Ranger Suarez walks back to the dugout after the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)
