Guitarist and singer Bobby Vylan of the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan delivers a message in support of Palestinians during his performance at the Glastonbury music festival, in Pilton, Britain, June 28, 2025, in this still image from video obtained from social media. ROCKAWAY PARK/via REUTER
On Monday morning, June 30, the Washington Free Beacon's Adam Kredo reported that according to a U.S. State Department official, visas for the British punk/hip-hop punk artist Bob Vylan had been revoked.
Vylan was planning a North American tour for the fall, with performances in both the U.S. and Canada. Dates in New York City and Boston were planned for early November but would be canceled if Vylan is unable to perform in the U.S.
Vylan, an outspoken critic of the Israeli government's Gaza policy and the Israeli Defense Forces (IVF), hasn't shied away from controversy in the U.K. — leading a crowd in a chant of "Death to the IDF" during a performance at the Glastonbury Festival.
The news on Vylan's U.S. visa is drawing a lot of reactions on X, formerly Twitter — including tweets from MAGA Republicans who are praising the move.
Author and WorldStrat President Jim Hanson tweeted, "This is how you treat terrorist promoters."
But critics are calling it out as an attack on free speech by The Trump Administration — including some who don't necessarily agree with Vylan's views.
Progressive Jacob Bonfarte wrote, "Where did they promote terrorism?"
Another X user, Daniel Hannan, argued, "Free speech means you can be ill-mannered up to the point of harassment, obnoxious up to the point of intimidation, offensive up to the point of incitement. This applies equally to Kneecap, Bob Vylan and Lucy Connolly - none of whom actually pushed people into violence."
Hannan also tweeted, "Who was incited? Do we really suppose that the stoned attendees at Glastonbury are going to board the next flight to Ben Gurion and attack an IDF soldier?"
X user Razor Marone tweeted, "Why shouldn’t Bob Vylan, or indeed anyone else, be able to tell those who are carrying out genocide on live tv daily (or enthusiastically supporting them doing so) to go f--- themselves? I'm getting a bit confused on the concept of free speech in this country?"
Marone also posted, "Free speech for me and not for thee again is it?"
Britbatcali wrote, "If they manage to not allow Bob Vylan entry to the US there should be a mass streaming effort or something to get around this censorship. They welcome war criminals but will silence those opposed to war crimes."
Anarchist Frodo commented, "Banning people for their speech is as un-American as it gets. If you think Bob Vylan is an evil POS, then dont support him. Just remember that when the pendulum swings back, the leftists won't hesitate to ban you over free speech either."
An Iranian MP has praised British rap-punk duo Bob Vylan following their recent highly contentious performance at the Glastonbury music festival in England, calling them a "brother" and suggesting artists would join the fight against Israel, the Ana news agency reported on July 1.
Mojtaba Zarei, a member of Iran's parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, has surprised many in Iran with his words of encouragement to the duo, which have caused a political storm in the UK following last weekend’s performance on the Pyramid stage at the annual music festival.
Bob Vylan is a British rap-punk duo that led crowds at Glastonbury Festival on June 28 in chants of "death, death to the IDF" and "free, free Palestine," prompting police investigations and US visa revocations ordered by President Donald Trump.
Zarei reacted to Bob Vylan's recent concert by posting on social media platform X: "Greetings to Vylan! He is our brother!"
The MP suggested that even without support from Hezbollah, Hamas, Ansar and Iranians, artists would oppose Israel. "Artists will come to war against you Israeli cannibals!" Zarei wrote.
Zarei referenced the late Mojtahed Tehrani, saying that in Karbala, more of "these same people" came to the aid of Hussein than the pious, conservatives and cowards.
He stopped short of offering the musical pair a performance in Iran, an offer rarely made to foreign musicians, something rarely offered to foreign performers.
The duo have come under increasing pressure in recent days with their agency, United Talent Agency dropping them as clients and removing them from their website following the backlash over the comments.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other politicians condemned the chants as hate speech, and Glastonbury organisers distanced themselves from the band, stating the performance "crossed a line" and emphasising there is no room for antisemitism or incitement at the festival.
The last Western musicians to perform in Iran were Germany’s Schiller, in 2017, with earlier attempts by other singers including Chris de Burgh visiting the country in 2008 but not being permitted to perform his “Lady in Red” song.
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