The BBC has issued a proper apology after allowing a “high risk” act to perform live at Glastonbury, despite internal warnings about Bob Vylan‘s potential for controversial content. The performance aired on the broadcaster’s platforms and contained what the BBC described as “offensive and deplorable behavior” related to antisemitism.
Director-general Tim Davie personally addressed BBC staff in an internal memo on Thursday, stating: “I deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behavior appeared on the BBC and need to ask for forgiveness – to our audience and to all of you, but particularly to Jewish colleagues and the Jewish community. We’re unequivocal that there will be no place for antisemitism on the BBC.”
The incident has prompted significant changes to the BBC’s live streaming protocols for music events. Bob Vylan had been classified as “high risk” following a risk assessment process applied to all Glastonbury acts, with seven performers falling into this category. Despite the classification, all acts were deemed suitable for live streaming with “appropriate mitigations.”
Nevertheless, the broadcaster acknowledged critical failures of their compliance processes. “Prior to Glastonbury, a call was taken that compliance risks might be mitigated in real time on the live stream – through using language or content warnings – without the necessity for a delay. This was clearly not the case,” the BBC statement read.
Through the performance, the livestream was monitored in keeping with agreed protocols, with warnings appearing twice on the stream. Despite escalated concerns, the editorial team made the choice not to chop the feed – a selection the BBC now acknowledges as “an error.”
Davie, who was on-site at Glastonbury visiting BBC staff, was subsequently informed of the incident and immediately instructed teams to forestall the performance from appearing in any further coverage. While the performance was quickly faraway from BBC iPlayer and Sounds, the live feed remained energetic until shortly after 8 p.m. as teams worked on technical solutions.
BBC chair Samir Shah also issued a press release, apologizing “to all our viewers and listeners and particularly the Jewish community for allowing the ‘artist’ Bob Vylan to precise unconscionable antisemitic views live to tell the tale the BBC.” Shah praised Davie’s swift response and confirmed the BBC board met Tuesday to handle the incident.
The controversy has led to immediate policy changes for live music programming. High-risk musical performances will not be broadcast or streamed live, editorial policy support can be mandatory on-site at major music festivals, and the broadcaster will provide more detailed guidance on when to withdraw live streams.
The BBC stated it’s taking actions “to make sure proper accountability for those found to be accountable for those failings within the live broadcast.”
The incident represents a big embarrassment for the general public broadcaster, with Davie emphasizing its commitment to being “a task model for inclusivity and tolerance” and maintaining “an environment where everyone seems to be supported and might do their highest work.”