Bob Vylan Awarded Damages Over Nazi Salute Allegation

The Manchester Evening News has been forced to issue a full apology and retraction after alleging that Bob Vylan performed Nazi salutes on stage.

Bob Vylan, or one half thereof, have had a win in court after the Manchester Evening Standard published an article alleging that the hip hop duo performed Nazi salute on stage during one of their October gigs.

The October 6 article titled, “Jewish leaders and MPs ‘deeply concerned’ over Bob Vylan gig in Manchester”, falsely claimed that Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan, known as Pascal Robinson and Wade Laurence George to their parents, “performed Nazi salutes on stage”.

However, on November 7, Rahman Lowe Solicitors, acting for Robinson, reported that the paper’s publishers, Reach plc, have issued a full apology and retraction, and have been found liable for court costs and unspecified but “substantial” damages.

As it turns out, and as Bob Vylan fans know, they like to start every show with a bit of stretching and guided meditation, and what was taken for (and we’re being very generous here) a Nazi salute, was in fact a sun salutation.

On behalf of Rahman Lowe, Zillur Rahman said in the release, “This was an extremely serious and damaging allegation, falsely suggesting that an artist whose entire career is rooted in anti-racism and social justice was performing a Nazi salute. In fact, our client merely drew attention to the genocide in Gaza, at a time when many ignored the crimes of the IDF. We are pleased that Reach plc has now accepted this was untrue, publicly corrected the record, apologised to our client, and paid substantial damages.”

In his own statement, Robinson added, “To have something rooted in mindfulness, peace and connection distorted into a symbol of hate was both painful and outrageous. Our art has always stood against oppression in all its forms, racism, fascism, and discrimination and we will never stop using our platform to speak truth to power. We are grateful to our legal team at Rahman Lowe for defending our integrity and setting the record straight. The truth matters, and we’re glad it’s now been recognised. Now that this matter has been resolved, we are looking forward to concentrating on our current UK tour.”

You can read the full and extremely brief apology here. Read it aloud through grit teeth for the full experience.