Bob Vylan Gig Cancelled After Controversial Charlie Kirk Comments in Amsterdam
British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan is no stranger to controversy, but their latest comments have landed them in fresh trouble.
According to Independent, The group’s scheduled concert at Poppodium 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands, set for Sept. 16, was abruptly cancelled after frontman Bobby Vylan made inflammatory remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah last week.
During their show at Paradiso in Amsterdam on Sept. 13, Bobby told the crowd he wanted to dedicate a song to Kirk, calling him “an absolute piece of st of a human being.” He went on to add, “The pronouns was/were. Cause if you chat st you will get banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of s**t.”
Clips of the performance spread online, sparking outrage. The Tilburg venue issued a translated statement saying the comments “go too far” and fall outside what they are willing to support, despite allowing the group to perform in the past.
In response to criticism, Bobby later posted an Instagram video denying that the band had “celebrated” Kirk’s death, insisting: “At no point whatsoever did we celebrate Charlie Kirk’s death.”
This isn’t the first time Bob Vylan has drawn backlash. Earlier this summer, the duo caused uproar at Glastonbury Festival by chanting “death to the IDF,” which led to an investigation by U.K. police and an apology from the BBC after airing their set live. The band defended themselves, saying the chant was directed at the Israeli army and not the Jewish community.
Paradiso, the Amsterdam venue, stood by the band’s right to express anger, pointing out that punk music has always been about raw, unfiltered protest. Still, they acknowledged the language was “harsh and offensive.”
While the Tilburg gig has been cancelled, Bob Vylan is still scheduled to play at Doornroosje in the Netherlands.
For now, the booking remains active, but after the latest uproar, it remains to be seen whether more venues will follow suit.
