Police have confirmed that no criminal charges will be brought against punk duo Bob Vylan for leading chants against the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) during their headline set at last year's Glastonbury Festival.
Investigation Concludes with Insufficient Evidence
In a statement released on Tuesday 23 December 2025, Avon and Somerset Police said the investigation into the incident would be closed. The force stated there was "insufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction" for any potential offence.
The controversy centred on rapper Bobby Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster. During the duo's performance on the West Holts Stage on Saturday 28 June 2024, he led the crowd in chants of "death death to the IDF". The force launched a criminal investigation shortly after the festival, appointing a senior detective to lead the inquiry.
Voluntary Interview and Legal Advice Sought
The police conducted a voluntary interview with a man in his mid-thirties in November 2024 in connection with the incident. He was informed of the decision to take no further action on the day of the announcement.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they had shared initial details with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in July 2024 and sought extensive legal advice on a number of potential offences. However, the CPS clarified that while they provided early investigative advice, the final decision not to proceed was made by the police.
"We believe it is right this matter was comprehensively investigated," the police statement said, acknowledging the "widespread anger" the comments provoked and that "words have real-world consequences".
Wider Fallout and Related Cases
The decision follows a similar outcome for another act on the same stage. In July 2024, police also took no further action against Irish language rap trio Kneecap for comments made during their Glastonbury set, citing identical evidential grounds.
Despite the legal conclusion, the incident had significant professional repercussions for Bob Vylan. Following the festival, the duo were:
- Dropped from Radar festival and a German music venue booking.
- Had their US tour cancelled after their visas were revoked.
- Were the subject of a related Metropolitan Police investigation into a May 2024 London performance at Alexandra Palace, which was also closed in November 2024 on CPS advice.
In October 2024, British Airways paused its sponsorship of the Louis Theroux Podcast following an interview in which Robinson-Foster stated he was "not regretful" of the chant and would "do it again tomorrow".
The police statement concluded by emphasising their ongoing engagement with community groups, particularly within Jewish communities, to provide reassurance and support throughout the investigation.
