Wolf Alice Call Media Response to Kneecap and Bob Vylan a “Distraction”

Wolf Alice have criticised the media response to Kneecap and Bob Vylan’s pro-Palestine statements at Glastonbury.

The English rock band have labelled the backlash a “distraction technique” and have since encouraged more artists to speak out.

The band spoke to The Independent following their own Glastonbury set, where frontwoman Ellie Rowsell expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine. Speaking on the controversy surrounding other artists’ political messages at the festival, bassist Theo Ellis said there was a clear gap between media coverage and what was actually happening on the ground.

“The disparity between the way it was presented in the media, and actually being at the festival is hugely different to me,” Ellis said. “It didn’t feel like some kind of sinister protest event.”

Bob Vylan’s set included criticism of the Israeli government and a chant of “death to the IDF”, which has since been widely condemned. Their US visas were reportedly revoked, a number of shows were cancelled, and their European tour support slot with Gogol Bordello was cut. The performance remains under investigation by Avon and Somerset Police. A similar investigation into Kneecap’s performance has since been dropped.

Ellis said the way some media outlets have framed the situation was designed to distract from the issue itself. “It is a distraction technique,” he said. “What is happening in Palestine is underrepresented in the media, and that is why the artists talking about it are resonating so much.”

Rowsell added that artists speaking up are often made to look isolated. “But you would think it was just Kneecap and Bob Vylan, because maybe the media is scared to show just how many people are passionate about expressing solidarity,” she added.

Guitarist Joff Oddie later said the focus on controversy risks obscuring the issue. “My fear is that we start talking about the culture war stuff more than we start talking about children dying,” he said.

Other artists who made statements at Glastonbury include CMAT, The Libertines, and Felix White. Wolf Alice said they hope more musicians will join the conversation, and that open support makes it easier for others to speak without fear. I hope so too. In the meantime, check out Wolf Alice’s new song ‘The Sofa’ below.