What happened to Lucy Connolly? Complete controversy explained as MPs demand Bob Vylan be treated the same as her

Bob Vylan, an English punk duo known for their confrontational style, recently made headlines following a controversy. On June 28, 2025, at Glastonbury’s West Holts Stage, they led the crowd in chants of "Free, free Palestine," followed by "Death, death to the IDF."

These chants led to a backlash from the government and the event organisers. MPs, including Home Secretary Chris Philp, have argued that Bob should face the same legal consequences as Lucy Connolly, claiming that both individuals’ actions constituted hate speech and incited racism, according to The Sun.

According to reports by The Guardian, Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, was sentenced in October 2024 to 31 months in prison for inciting racial hatred. In July 2024, she posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling for "mass deportation" after the Southport terror attack in which three children were killed.

Bob Vylan's recent controversy explained

Bob Vylan, best known for albums including Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life and Humble as the Sun, is facing backlash after their chants at the Glastonbury Festival.

MPs are demanding that the rapper be arrested and prosecuted for his actions. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp argues that the rapper should face scrutiny and consequences for their hateful chants or should risk becoming the centre of a new 'two-tier justice' row. He said:

''A failure to do so would be a clear example of two-tier justice under Sir Keir Starmer and his Attorney General, Lord Hermer.''

The festival's organizers have said that they were appalled and said that they crossed a line into hate speech and incitement to violence, as per GB News.

On Sunday, June 29, 2025, Bob Vylan's Instagram page posted a statement following the controversy. The statement reads:

''I said what I said. I listen to my daughter typing out loud as she fills out a school survey asking for her feedback on the current state of her school dinners. She expressed that she would like healthier meals, more options and dishes inspired by other parts of the world.''

The statement continues:

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"Listening to her voice her opinions on a matter that she cares about and affects her daily, reminds me that we may not be doomed after all. Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.''

The footage from the festival is being reviewed to determine if the chants constitute a criminal offense, and no charges have been filed yet.

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