BBC to stop broadcasting ‘high risk’ performances live after Bob Vylan Glastonbury row | Ents & Arts News

The BBC has said it will no longer show a live broadcast of “high risk” performances after the controversy over Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury gig.

It comes after it showed the punk-rap duo leading the crowd in chants of “death to the IDF”.

In a statement, BBC director general Tim Davie said he “deeply regrets that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to say sorry – to our audience and to all of you, but in particular to Jewish colleagues and the Jewish community.

“We are unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at the BBC. I and everyone need to ensure that the BBC is a role model for inclusivity and tolerance and we all have a part to play.”

In a statement, the BBC said it was “clear that errors were made both in the lead-up to and during Bob Vylan’s appearance.”

The broadcaster said the duo were deemed “high risk” following an assessment process applied to all acts appearing at Glastonbury, but deemed suitable for live streaming with “appropriate mitigations”.

“Prior to Glastonbury, a decision was taken that compliance risks could be mitigated in real time on the live stream – through the use of language or content warnings – without the need for a delay. This was clearly not the case,” the BBC said.

“During the performance, the livestream was monitored in line with the agreed compliance protocols and a number of issues were escalated.

“Warnings appeared on the stream on two occasions and the editorial team took the decision not to cut the feed. This was an error.”

The corporation added that it would make “immediate changes to livestreaming music events”, including no longer broadcasting performances deemed high risk live.

In a statement on Instagram on Tuesday, the band said they were “not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people,’ rather, they were for the “dismantling of a violent military machine”.

In their statement, the group said they were a “distraction from the story” in Gaza and that whatever “sanctions” they received would also be a distraction.

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