British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan had their upcoming concert in Tilburg, Netherlands, canceled after frontman Bobby Vylan made inflammatory remarks about slain American activist Charlie Kirk. The cancellation follows a firestorm of criticism over comments made during a performance in Amsterdam, where Vylan appeared to mock Kirk just days after his assassination.
During the show, Bobby Vylan referred to Kirk using the pronouns “was/were” and called him a “piece of shit” before dedicating a song to him. He then shouted to the audience, “If you chat shit, you will get banged!” The rapper also urged fans to “kick Nazis” and “find Zionists in the street,” stoking anger both in the Netherlands and abroad.
The performance sparked immediate backlash, with critics saying the comments glorified political violence. The 013 Poppodium concert venue in Tilburg, where the band was set to perform next, quickly announced it would no longer host the show. In a statement, venue representatives said the band’s words crossed a line and were no longer in line with the values the venue upholds.
Vylan attempted to clarify the remarks on social media, claiming he was not celebrating Kirk’s death and that the statements were being misrepresented. However, his follow-up did little to calm the outrage. Many accused the artist of inciting violence under the guise of punk activism.
This is not the first time Bob Vylan has courted controversy. Earlier this year, they led a crowd in chanting “Death to the IDF” at a UK music festival, prompting an investigation and widespread condemnation. The band has since been dropped by their management and barred from entering the United States.
The fallout from the Charlie Kirk remarks has further damaged the group’s reputation, with more venues expected to follow suit.
