Bob Vylan issue defamation proceedings against RTÉ over Glastonbury chant reporting

Bob Vylan have issued defamation proceedings against RTÉ over their reporting of the duo's Glastonbury performance this summer.

The proceedings were in regard to the part of Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set when they led a chant of "death, death to the IDF" in reference to the Israel Defence Forces.

The punk-rap duo allege RTÉ inaccurately called the chants "antisemitic" and said they are seeking damages to compensate for injury to their reputation from the reporting.

Bob Vylan are represented by Belfast legal firm Phoenix Law, which has previously represented KNEECAP. The firm filed two sets of defamation proceedings at the High Court yesterday.

"Our clients are no strangers to utilising their freedom of expression to speak out against the genocide in Gaza," said Phoenix Law solicitor Darragh Mackin in a statement today.

"There is however a fundamental distinction between speaking critically about the role of the Israeli state forces, and being anti-Semitic. The former is speech within the confines of political expression, whereas the latter is a form of hatred directed towards Jewish people.

"At no stage have our clients ever engaged in conduct that is remotely antisemitic and to that end, have had no option but to seek the formal correction of same via the remedies available within this litigation."

Phoenix Law claimed RTÉ "has failed to address the harm caused" despite requests for a retraction and an apology. The firm added the chant was "politically charged but not antisemitic in nature."

Bob Vylan performed at Dublin's Vicar Street last month, where they repeated their "death to the IDF" chant.

At the time of writing, RTÉ has not commented publically on the legal proceedings.