Chuck D stood firmly behind UK punk-rap duo Bob Vylan after their Glastonbury performance ignited political backlash and drew comparisons to Public Enemy’s own turbulent past with censorship and controversy.
During a live set at Glastonbury 2025, Bob Vylan led chants of “Death to the IDF” and “Free, free Palestine” — remarks that aired on the BBC and triggered swift condemnation from British politicians, festival organizers and the broadcaster itself.
The BBC later apologized for the broadcast, labeling the chants “offensive and deplorable,” and pledged to implement stricter editorial controls.
The fallout was immediate. UTA dropped the band, multiple festivals removed them from their lineups and their U.S. visas were revoked, canceling their North American tour.
British police also launched a criminal investigation into the performance, examining whether any laws had been broken.
Chuck D is no stranger to controversy, and the Bob Vylan incident echoed his experience during Public Enemy’s 1989 crisis.
“When people say death to a country, they’re not saying death to a people,” he told The Independent. “They’re saying death to imperialism, death to colonialism. Bob Vylan ain’t got no tanks. They’re using words to say something must end. You can’t really kill nobody with a guitar or a microphone, but you could kill somebody with a drone and a f***ing tank.”
That statement mirrors the storm Public Enemy faced when group member Professor Griff made anti-Semitic remarks to The Washington Post, saying Jews were responsible for the “majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe” and making provocative statements about Israel and Palestine.
The backlash was severe.
Chuck D initially defended Griff, calling the comments out of context, but mounting pressure from the public and industry insiders led him to dismiss Griff from the group.
Bob Vylan, for their part, defended their Glastonbury set, saying they oppose all violence and are being punished for speaking out on Gaza.
They described the backlash as a distraction from the humanitarian crisis. Chuck D concluded his remarks by emphasizing the importance of resistance through peaceful means: “We have to be able to fight for peace and love by any means necessary.”