By Megan Cartwright
Bob Vylan’s career may be in trouble following their controversial performance at Glastonbury, experts tell Newsweek.Over the weekend, the English punk rap duo sparked outrage at the music festival in the United Kingdom. During their set, they led crowds in a chant of “death, death to the IDF,” referring to the Israeli Defense Forces.On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military operation that has killed more than 56,400 people in Gaza, per the Associated Press.On Saturday, the Avon and Somerset Police said on X, formerly Twitter, that they were looking into “whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”In a separate post shared to the social media platform on Monday, authorities confirmed “a criminal investigation is now being undertaken.”The BBC, which broadcast the music festival, issued an apology: “We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behavior appeared on the BBC and want to apologize to our viewers and listeners and in particular the Jewish community. We are also unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC.”Bob Vylan—who uses the stage names Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan—responded to backlash on Instagram on Tuesday.”We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine,” they wrote. “We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”Bob Vylan Suffers ConsequencesEarlier this week, the U.S. State Department revoked Bob Vylan’s visas to the United States.”The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X on Monday. “Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”The duo was also dropped by their agent UTA, Deadline reported.Will Bob Vylan’s Career Recover?Lauren Beeching, founder of crisis PR firm Honest London, told Newsweek it’s “looking increasingly unlikely” that Bob Vylan’s career will recover from Glastonbury.”The chant wasn’t subtle or up for interpretation. ‘Death to the IDF’ was broadcast live by the BBC, and the response has been fast and serious,” Beeching said. “They’ve lost their U.S. visas, were dropped by their American booking agency UTA, and the BBC pulled the footage while issuing public apologies. Ofcom has confirmed it is investigating, and there’s a criminal inquiry underway. This is not a controversy you ride out with a break from social media.”Eric Schiffer, CEO of Reputation Management Consultants, added: “Bob Vylan saw America’s 40-city ATM blow into bits with one ‘death to IDF’ chant that turned a seven-figure tour into a cesspool of self destruction. UTA’s kiss-off and a federal visa shred turned Bob Vylan from buzz band to biohazard. U.S. bookers now treat their name like smallpox on a set list. UTA ditching them is the real body-blow because agents equal oxygen.”Bob Vylan was scheduled to open for singer Grandson’s tour this fall.”When the State Department slaps a no-fly list on your Fender guitars, the merch table moves from Madison Square to Minsk and your rider drops from Dom Pérignon to bring your own,” Schiffer continued. “Agents dump you, visas vanish, cops investigate—welcome to the triple-crown of attempted career suicide. The Glastonbury spot is now radioactive nostalgia—future lineups will treat their clip like a deathtrap warning reel.”Amanda Coleman, a crisis communication consultant and director of Amanda Coleman Communication Ltd, argued, however, that “the future of Bob Vylan is in the hands of their audience and whether they are prepared to continue to follow them despite this furor.”Even if the artist is prevented from traveling, they can continue to grow an audience online,” Coleman explained. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, artists proved you could use social media and technology to stream and continue to grow an audience. If the social media companies cut them off, there will always be alternative channels to move onto.”She added that “Bob Vylan have had more coverage since the Glastonbury Festival appearance, and many more people will know who they are.””I don’t believe that all publicity is good publicity,” Coleman said. “Their behavior has caused significant damage to them and has outraged many, but whether this is a fatal blow to their future is in the hands of their fans and followers.”Bob Vylan’s Net Worth Takes Big HitBob Vylan’s net worth will most certainly be impacted after their Glastonbury set, Beeching tells Newsweek.”Touring is usually the main source of income for independent artists, and they were due to open for American singer Grandson’s U.S. tour in October and November. That’s now off the table following their visa revocation. The cancellation means lost fees, scrapped merch sales, and the breakdown of future international revenue,” she shared.”Being dropped by UTA also ends access to global booking networks, corporate stages, and brand tie-ins. Even if those opportunities weren’t fully developed yet, they were within reach. Now, anyone looking to work with them commercially would have to factor in reputational risk and likely backlash. That alone shrinks their options.”Beeching said it was important to note that “being dropped by a booking agent like UTA is different from being dropped by a label.””Bob Vylan are independent and release music themselves. So while they don’t have a label to sever ties with, losing agency support cuts off live revenue opportunities, tour planning, and international expansion,” she explained. “You don’t need a label to build a career anymore, but you do need access, and that’s what’s just been taken away.”Beeching made it clear, however, that despite criticism, they will also “likely gain fans from this, especially those who view the backlash as censorship or hypocrisy.””They haven’t been erased, but they have been repositioned.”While Bob Vylan may also still earn money “through streaming, direct fan support and U.K. performances,” the “ceiling has lowered.””From a PR and commercial strategy perspective, this shifts them from being a politically provocative act with growth potential to one the industry will now avoid. That doesn’t mean financial collapse, but it does mean their future is far more limited than it was two weeks ago.”