UK punk band Bob Vylan cancels Tilburg gig after frontman’s controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination spark backlash. Read the full story here.
UK punk band Bob Vylan has canceled an upcoming gig after their frontman, Bobby Vylan, made controversial remarks about the late political activist Charlie Kirk.
The musician has faced criticism before—earlier this year, he led crowds at Glastonbury Festival with chants including “Free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF,” which later drew police attention in the UK.
The Amsterdam Incident
On September 13, during a performance at Club Paradiso in Amsterdam, Bobby Vylan addressed the crowd before a song. Referring to Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, Vylan said:
“I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of s*** of a human being. The pronouns was/were. Cause if you chat s*** you will get banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of s***.”
Footage of the moment quickly spread online, sparking heavy criticism.
The Response
Vylan later posted a video response on social media, denying that he ever celebrated Kirk’s death:
“I did call him a piece of s***. That much is true. But at no point was his death celebrated.”
He added that online reactions had been exaggerated, urging people to “calm down.”
Calm down. pic.twitter.com/k6jeeedRvB
— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) September 14, 2025
Gig Canceled in the Netherlands
Following the incident, Poppodium 013, a major venue in Tilburg, Netherlands, canceled Bob Vylan’s scheduled September 16 performance.
The venue released a statement explaining:
While past controversies were tolerated, the recent comments “went too far.”
They respected the band’s punk and activist roots but stated the remarks were beyond what they could support on their platform.
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The Shooting Investigation
Meanwhile, the FBI confirmed they had detained 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Authorities revealed a note allegedly written by Robinson that stated his intent to “take out” Kirk before the attack.
The investigation is ongoing.
