Bob Vylan have been awarded substantial damages following the publication of defamatory claims about a “Nazi salute” occurring at one of their gigs last month.
- 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?”
Rahman Lowe Solicitors announced on Friday (November 7) that they had secured a full apology as well as substantial damages on behalf of frontman Bobby Vylan – real name Pascal Robinson – following the publication of an article by Reach plc, publishers of the Manchester Evening News.
The story, titled “Jewish leaders and MPs ‘deeply concerned’ over Bob Vylan gig in Manchester”, was shared on October 6, and falsely alleged that Vylan had “performed Nazi salutes on stage”.
As outlined by Rahman Lowe, the punk duo open every performance with a guided stretching and meditation routine, which the audience are invited to participate in. Part of this practice sees Vylan and bandmate Bobbie perform sun salutations, a yoga stretch that involves reaching the left arm toward the sky and placing the right palm over the heart.
“The movement is performed while facing each of the four corners of the room, symbolically connecting with the entire audience,” the solicitors statement shared. “It bears no resemblance in form, intention, or context to any fascist salute. This ritual has been an integral part of Bob Vylan’s live performances for several years.”
Indeed, while speaking to Clash last year, Vylan said of the practice, which had been a staple of their sets so long he couldn’t remember where or when it started: “I think going out on stage and not being vocal for two and a half/three minutes where we just play and stretch – I feel like it sets a nice intention.”
Subsequently, Reach plc has published a full correction and apology. Reach plc has also agreed to pay Vylan’s legal costs and has undertaken not to repeat the allegation.
In a statement addressing the matter, Vylan said that having something rooted in “mindfulness, peace and connection” be 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,” he added. “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.
Rahman Lowe Solicitors’ Zillur Rahman also shared a statement pointing to Vylan’s ardent support of Gaza amid the ongoing war with Israel.
“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,” he said. “In fact, our client merely drew attention to the genocide in Gaza, at a time when many ignored the crimes of the IDF.”
At this year’s Glastonbury Festival, the punk duo delivered a controversial performance on the West Holts Stage, using their platform to voice their support for the people of Palestine, call out the Israeli military and criticise the BBC, as well as the UK and US governments.
In the most provocative moment of the set, Vylan told the huge crowd, “have you heard this one?”, before leading a chant of “death, death to the IDF”. It led to a criminal investigation from Avon and Somerset Police, as well as the cancellation of multiple international shows and the revocation of their US visas.
Having recently given his first in-depth interview on the subject on The Louis Theroux Podcast, in which he said he was “not regretful” of his remarks, frontman Vylan has now hit back at British Airways after it pulled its Louis Theroux podcast sponsorship.
“Make no mistake,” he shared to X/Twitter. “This is a scare tactic. I went on the podcast and as hard as the lobby groups and media tried, they couldn’t twist anything I said. So they have resorted to lobbying for Louis’ sponsorship to be pulled in an attempt to scare others out of giving me a platform.”
In a follow-up tweet, he wrote: “They thought they were going to get a dumb angry punk ranting. Instead they got articulate and considered responses to each question with facts to back it up when needed. Their hope to further vilify me couldn’t run, so they target Louis to make an example for sitting with me.
“The lobby groups, the British government and media are determined to make an example of me, all because I dare to want an end to a genocidal occupying force guilty of war crimes.”
The duo were later forced to reschedule their headline shows in Manchester and Leeds “due to political pressure” from MPs and Jewish leaders.
The gigs were originally set to be the first two stops on the London punk-rap duo’s 2025 ‘We Won’t Go Quietly’ UK and Ireland tour. They had been scheduled to perform at Leeds’ O2 Academy on Tuesday (November 4), before heading to Manchester Academy the following night (5).
They also recently released their new single, ‘Sick Sad World’, where they called out Prime Minister Keir Starmer and “the BBC’s lies“.
