BBC music boss steps down after Bob Vylan Glastonbury controversy 

A BBC music boss has reportedly stepped down following the backlash around Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury 2025 set.

• READ MORE: Bob Vylan: “We’ve been screaming about these topics at the top of our lungs for years. Why has it taken this long?”

Lorna Clarke, who is the BBC’s director of music, was reported by The Times as stepping back from her day-to-day responsibilities following the backlash to livestreaming Bob Vylan’s performance at the Worthy Farm festival last month.

The performance saw the duo voice their support for Palestine, criticise Israel, and lead the crowd in chants of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]”. 

In a statement last week, the BBC apologised to viewers for broadcasting the performance and admitted that it had deemed the set “high risk” in advance, but then deemed it suitable for live streaming.

It also said that the comments made by Bob Vylan were “offensive and deplorable” and that the decision to air the set was one that it “deeply regrets”. It then added that it will no longer be broadcasting any performances it thinks may be “high risk” in the future.

Now, it seems that the director of music has stepped back from roles including overseeing six radio networks and live music events, and that a small group of other senior BBC staff behind the decision have temporarily relinquished their roles (via Independent).

Bob Vylan divided opinions with their set. Artists including Lambrini Girls, Amyl And The Sniffers and Soft Play, have each shared their backing, with the latter sharing: “Again, the media is trying to distract you from the real story. The outrage sparked […] is merely a smoke screen for the lack of reporting on the destruction of the Palestinian people. They are starving children, where is the media’s outrage at Israel’s continued obliteration of a whole nation?”

Massive Attack showed their support for the duo too, and urged the media to centre their attention towards “what is happening daily to the people of Gaza”, rather than focusing on the artists speaking out.

That being said, others have criticised their set and they have been dropped from shows in Germany and France, and they have found their Glasto appearance under criminal investigation. On top of that, they have reportedly had their ties severed from agents United Talent Agency, and also had their US visas revoked.

The duo have spoken out in defence of their set multiple times, saying it is vital to “teach our children to speak up for the change they want”. They also reiterated that they want the “dismantling of a violent military machine”, not calling for “the death of Jews or Arabs or any other race or group”.

They were dropped from Manchester’s Radar Festival last week too, but organisers made it clear that they did not want to do this. Then, several bands pulled out of the festival in a show of solidarity with Bob Vylan, including Hero In Error.

This morning, it was confirmed that their most recent album, 2024’s ‘Humble As The Sun‘, had re-entered several official UK album charts in light of the Glastonbury controversy.

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