Punk duo mock murdered conservative activist days after assassination, tell crowd ‘his pronouns was/were’ whilst urging fans to attack ‘fascists on streets’
British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan have sparked international outrage after celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk during a sold-out performance at Amsterdam’s Paradiso venue on Saturday night.
The band’s frontman, Bobby Vylan, real name Pascal Robinson-Foster, dedicated a song to the murdered conservative activist, referring to him as “an absolute piece of s*** of a human being” and mockingly declaring: “The pronouns was/were. Because if you talk s***, you will get banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of s***.”
The repulsive remarks came just days after Kirk, 31, the chief executive and co-founder of conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, was fatally shot whilst speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The father of two collapsed immediately after being struck by gunfire during a campus debate event.
Taking the stage adorned with a Palestinian flag, Robinson-Foster opened his performance by defiantly asking the crowd “if there were any snipers in the room” – a direct reference to Kirk’s assassination. The singer then reportedly urged the crowd to “fuck the fascists” and “go find them on the streets,” prompting enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
History of Controversy
The Ipswich-raised duo, who have previously been rejected by record labels as “too extreme” to sign, rose to notoriety this summer after leading chants of “Death to the IDF” during their Glastonbury Festival performance, which was broadcast live on the BBC.
The Glastonbury incident prompted a police investigation and condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called their actions “appalling hate speech.” Israel condemned both the BBC and Glastonbury for allowing the performance, which included the controversial slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – regarded by many in the Jewish community as a call for Israel’s elimination.
Following the Glastonbury controversy, Bob Vylan were dropped by their management team, axed by United Talent Agency, and had their US visas revoked by the Trump administration. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the revocation “in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants.
Amsterdam Performance Sparks Fury
The Amsterdam concert featured heightened security measures, including police presence, metal barriers, and extensive bag checks at the entrance. Paradiso acknowledged the band’s controversial reputation in a statement to ticket holders, saying “activism is inseparably linked to Bob Vylan.”
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf and pro-Israel website JFeed, Robinson-Foster led the crowd in three chants of “Death, death to the IDF!” and repeatedly called for the liberation of Palestine. He also reportedly declared: “We’re not hateful, we’re not anti-Semites, we’re anti-Zionist. We are anti-oppression, we are anti-fascist.”
The venue had faced pressure not to host the band following earlier incidents. In July, two masked individuals held up a banner outside Paradiso reading: “If Bob Vylan plays that night, Amsterdam will stand and fight.” Robinson-Foster addressed the graffiti during his performance, telling the crowd: “They tried to stop us from playing here today. They spray-painted the building a couple of times and they’re thick as shit so they can’t spell.”
US State Department Warning
The timing of Bob Vylan’s comments is particularly significant as US State Department officials had issued stern warnings following Kirk’s assassination that foreign nationals “who glorify violence and hatred” would be denied entry to America.
Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau stated: “I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalising, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention so that the State Department can protect the American people.”
This warning appears particularly relevant to Bob Vylan, who had already lost their US visas following the Glastonbury incident and had been forced to cancel a planned 20-city American tour.
Social Media Backlash
The band’s actions have provoked fierce criticism on social media. One user wrote: “He’s so untalented he has to say controversial things just to stay relevant. When history books are written ‘Bob Vylan’ won’t even get a side note, Charlie Kirk will get entire chapters written about him.”
GB News reported that Alex Armstrong echoed similar sentiments, stating: “The left always lose. Always.”
Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands Zvi Vapni criticised the event, stating it represents “freedom of hate” rather than free speech, whilst Dutch politician Caroline van der Plas called the comments a “call for violence.
Media watchdog HonestReporting noted the disturbing overlap between anti-Israel rhetoric and celebration of Kirk’s death, highlighting how political extremism has crossed into endorsement of violence.
Identity and Background
The two musicians, who guard their true identities closely, insist they be referred to as Bobby Vylan (the rapper and singer) and Bobbie Vylan (the drummer) – their names a play on US singer-songwriter and Nobel laureate Bob Dylan.
Despite their attempts at anonymity, the frontman’s real name, Pascal Robinson-Foster, has been widely reported, and the duo have been filmed threatening their own fans at previous performances.
Their notoriety reached fresh heights this summer when their Glastonbury performance prompted the BBC to admit “with hindsight” that the broadcast should have been pulled from air during the performance. The broadcaster stated it “respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence” and called the “antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan utterly unacceptable.”
Widespread Condemnation
Kirk’s assassination has been largely condemned across the political spectrum, though some left-wing social media users have shamefully celebrated the murder, with some comparing him to Adolf Hitler and suggesting he “deserved” his fate.
Bob Vylan’s decision to publicly celebrate the killing represents a new low in political discourse, with venues and festivals now facing increasing pressure not to book the duo for future events.
Paradiso’s decision to proceed with the concert despite warnings has drawn criticism, with Dutch news outlet DDS reporting that the venue “veranderde in een haattempel” (transformed into a temple of hate) during the performance.
The band are scheduled to embark on a six-date UK tour in November, though it remains to be seen whether venues will proceed with bookings given the escalating controversy surrounding their inflammatory rhetoric and celebration of political violence.
As investigations continue into both the Glastonbury incident and Saturday’s Amsterdam performance, Bob Vylan’s actions have reignited debates about the limits of free speech, the normalisation of political violence, and the responsibility of venues and broadcasters in platforming extremist rhetoric.
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