BBC’s £215,000-a-year head of music ‘is stood down from duties’ as corporation admits it rated Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set as ‘high risk’ but STILL let it air live anyway
The BBC‘s head of music has stepped back from her role after the corporation admitted that punk duo Bob Vylan were assessed as ‘high risk’ before their performance at Glastonbury – and yet still allowed on air.
Lorna Clarke is among a small number of senior staff who have temporarily withdrawn from their day-to-day duties covering music and live events, it emerged today.
Clarke, who is on an annual salary of £215,000, was stood down so she could focus on the investigation into why the BBC failed to cut the feed during Bob Vylan’s appearance, The Times Reports.
It comes after the corporation has faced a furious backlash following last Sunday’s set that included the duo’s frontman calling out ‘Death to the IDF’ and ‘Free Palestine‘.
The performance at the West Holts Stage was livestreamed but the organisation later expressed regret for not stopping its broadcast of the set.
Earlier today the corporation revealed it has told ‘a small number of senior staff’ to step back from their day-to-day duties on music and live events, the BBC said.
And the broadcaster’s director general Tim Davie – who was attending the festival in Somerset – has today issued a personal apology.
Bob Vylan, who uses the identity Bobby Vylan but whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, led calls of ‘Death to the IDF’ and ‘Free Palestine’ from a stage at Glastonbury last weekend
Bob Vylan, who formed eight years ago in London, have previously refused to reveal their real names because of what they call the ‘surveillance state’
Lorna Clarke (pictured) was among a small number of senior staff who have temporarily withdrawn from their day-to-day duties covering music and live events. Clarke has been stood down so she can focus on the investigation into why the BBC failed to cut the feed during Bob Vylan’s appearance
A BBC spokesperson said this afternoon: Given the failings that have been acknowledged we are taking actions to ensure proper accountability for those found to be responsible for those failings in the live broadcast.
They added: ‘We would urge people not to speculate, particularly in relation to any individuals.
Clarke has 30 years of broadcasting experience and has worked for the corporation for the BBC for 19 years.
Her duties include managing six radio stations and overseeing live music broadcasts.
Bob Vylan’s singer refers to himself as Bobby Vylan while the drummer goes by Bobbie Vylan although their real names are, respectively, Pascal Robinson-Foster and Wade Laurence George.
Avon and Somerset Police said on Monday it had launched a probe into the performance after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with the apparearance ‘recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage’.
It has since emerged that the group were already under investigation by police for comments made at a concert one month before Glastonbury.
Bob Vylan’s performance at the West Holts Stage was livestreamed by the BBC but the organisation later expressed regret for not stopping its broadcast of the set
The Bob Vylan rapper’s real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster – he formed the band in his hometown Ipswich
Video footage appears to show Bobby Vylan at Alexandra Palace in north London telling crowds: ‘Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.’
The rap group issued a statement on Tuesday claiming they were being ‘targeted for speaking up’ after Avon and Somerset police began its investigation.
The BBC has been widely criticised for continuing to livestream the performance on iPlayer with on-screen warnings about discriminatory language.
In a fresh statement issued today, the BBC said: ‘We fully understand the strength of feeling regarding Bob Vylan’s live appearance at Glastonbury on the BBC.
‘We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to apologise 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.
‘It is clear that errors were made both in the lead-up to and during Bob Vylan’s appearance. We think it’s important to set out some of the detail around the streaming of this performance.
‘Bob Vylan were deemed high risk following a risk assessment process applied to all acts appearing at Glastonbury.
‘Seven acts including Bob Vylan were included in this category and they were all 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.
‘During the performance, the live stream 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 BBC said that from now on music performances deemed high risk would not be broadcast live or streamed live.
The statement went on: ‘The Director-General was subsequently made aware of what had happened and instructed the team that none of the performance should feature in further coverage.
Chants of ‘death, death to the IDF’ prompted calls for the band members to be arrested over claims they had incited violence
Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury on Saturday afternoon was broadcast by the BBC – the corporation has now issued a new statement expressing regrets about the livestream
‘The team prioritised stopping the performance from featuring on demand. This meant that no downloads of Bob Vylan’s set were available on iPlayer or Sounds.
‘However, the live feed, which was showing subsequent performances from other acts on the same Glastonbury stage, remained up until it was amended shortly after 8pm while teams worked on a technical solution.
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‘Given the failings that have been acknowledged we are taking actions to ensure proper accountability for those found to be responsible for those failings in the live broadcast. We will not comment further on those processes at this time.
‘Furthermore, as a result we will make immediate changes to live streaming music events.
‘Any music performances deemed high risk will now not be broadcast live or streamed live.
‘Editorial Policy support will always be available on site at major music festivals and events, to improve compliance processes and the speed of available advice – and we will provide more detailed, practical guidance on the threshold for withdrawing a live stream.’
BBC chair Samir Shah said in a statement: ‘I’d like first of all to apologise to all our viewers and listeners and particularly the Jewish community for allowing the ‘artist’ Bob Vylan to express unconscionable antisemitic views live on the BBC.
BBC chair Samir Shah (pictured) has apologised ‘for allowing the ‘artist’ Bob Vylan to express unconscionable antisemitic views live on the BBC’
‘This was unquestionably an error of judgement. I was very pleased to note that as soon as this came to the notice of Tim Davie – who was on the Glastonbury site at the time visiting BBC staff – he took immediate action and instructed the team to withdraw the performance from on demand coverage.
‘The BBC Board met on Tuesday to hear what actions will now be taken. The Executive have agreed to put in place a set of strengthened editorial practices and policies for live music programming.
‘These will be important measures to safeguard future live broadcasts from a failure such as this.
The group previously won a prize for Best Alternative Music Act at the MOBO Awards at London’s OVO Arena in November 2022
Bob Vylan’s performance at Glastonbury on Saturday is now the subject of an investigation
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‘I am satisfied that the Executive is initiating a process to ensure proper accountability for those found to be responsible for the failings in this incident.
‘While it is important that the process is carried out fairly and correctly, it is equally important that the Executive takes decisive action.
‘The Board fully supports the Director-General and the swift actions taken by him and his team to identify these errors and address them.’
And Mr Davie himself said in a statement to colleagues: ‘I wanted to write to you today about Bob Vylan’s appearance at Glastonbury.
‘I deeply regret 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.
‘We are utterly committed to creating an environment where everyone is supported and can do their very best work. Please continue to treat each other with respect and kindness.’
Bob Vylan said in their own statement shared on Instagram on Tuesday: ‘Today, a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace.
BBC Director General Tim Davie (pictured) has issued an apology over the broadcast
‘Last week it was a Palestine pressure group, the week before that it was another band.
‘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.
‘A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.
‘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.
‘The Government doesn’t want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity? To ask why they aren’t doing more to stop the killing? To feed the starving?
‘The more time they talk about Bob Vylan, the less time they spend answering for their criminal inaction. We are being targeted for speaking up.
‘We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up too. Free Palestine.’
