Bob Vylan take on Irish national broadcaster in defamation row over Glastonbury chants
British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan have launched a libel lawsuit against Irish national broadcaster RTE, claiming the broadcaster was defamatory by claiming the band’s lead vocalist made anti-Semitic chants during their Glastonbury performance.
The band performed at Vicar Street in Dublin last month.
The band, known for their politically charged lyrics, attracted widespread attention when frontman Pascal Robinson-Foster chanted “death, death to the IDF” during a performance broadcast live by the BBC at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset in June.
Supreme Court records show legal papers were filed Monday by Phoenix Law, acting on behalf of both Robinson-Foster and drummer Wade Laurence George.
The firm stated: “The case arises from a broadcast by RTE News following Bob Vylan’s performance at the Glastonbury Festival on 28 June 2025. During this broadcast, comments were made that Bob Vylan’s frontman made anti-Semitic chants. These allegations are categorically denied by our customers and are completely unfounded.”
Phoenix Law also disclosed that Bob Vylan made statements expressing support for Palestinian self-determination and criticizing the military actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Arguing that the comments did not target Jews or express hatred towards any group, it concluded: “The comments made are politically charged but are not antisemitic in nature.”
Lawyer Darragh Mackin, who represents the pair, said: “Our clients are no strangers to exercising their freedom of expression against the genocide in Gaza.
“But there is a fundamental distinction between speaking critically about the role of Israeli state forces and being anti-Semitic. The former is speech within the bounds of political expression, while the latter is a form of hatred towards the Jewish people.”
RTE stated that it did not comment on the legal process.
Last month the Metropolitan Police confirmed it would “take no further action” over chants at the band’s performance in London.
An investigation was launched after a video emerged in which singer Bobby Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, allegedly said “Death to the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces)” at a concert he gave at Alexandra Palace in May.
Bob Vylan was supporting singer Iggy Pop at the time.
