Bob Vylan is suing the BBC in Irish High Court

British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan have launched legal proceedings against the BBC in the High Court in Ireland.

Frontman Pascal Robinson-Foster and bandmate Laurence George Wade separately filed proceedings on Tuesday. The cases taken are thought to relate to the corporation's coverage of their appearance at the Glastonbury Festival last year.

The set attracted headlines globally when the group led chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israeli Defence Forces and their actions in Gaza.

Israeli forces launched several campaigns, including the Rafah offensive, three battles fought around Khan Yunis, and the siege in North Gaza, culminating in a 2025 offensive in Gaza City. They have assassinated Hamas leaders inside and outside of Gaza.

The lawsuits come just months after the duo issued separate High Court defamation proceedings against RTÉ over its coverage of the controversy. That case centres on an RTÉ News report which stated that Robinson-Foster had led "anti-Semitic chants" during the performance.

Both members are being represented in the proceedings by Belfast human rights solicitor Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law.

Mackin previously represented KNEECAP in their successful judicial review against the UK government over a blocked arts grant, and also acted for Liam Óg hAnnaidh in relation to a terrorism charge that was later dropped.

There was considerable fallout in June last year, following the duo's Glastonbury set.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described it as "appalling hate speech", and BBC Chairman Samir Shah said the decision not to pull the live feed was "unquestionably an error of judgement."

Speaking on the legal proceedings against RTÉ in December, Phoenix Law said the band "categorically" denies that characterisation, arguing there is "a fundamental distinction between speaking critically about the role of the Israeli state forces, and being antisemitic."

 

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