{"id":21222,"date":"2025-08-25T01:17:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T01:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/21222\/"},"modified":"2025-08-25T01:17:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T01:17:09","slug":"bbc-explains-why-hoziers-passionate-speech-about-palestine-and-free-speech-was-cut-from-reading-2025-broadcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/21222\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC explains why Hozier’s passionate speech about Palestine and free speech was cut from Reading 2025 broadcast"},"content":{"rendered":"

The BBC has explained why Reading and Leeds headliner Hozier<\/a>\u2018s set was not broadcast, saying it was a mutual agreement between the broadcaster and the musician.<\/p>\n

The Irish musician performed on the main stage on Friday night (August 22), and gave impassioned speeches<\/a> in support of Palestine Action,\u00a0Kneecap<\/a>, free speech and equality.<\/p>\n

He began by referencing artists with an \u201cinstinct to tell the truth in their music\u201d, listing Nina Simone<\/a>,\u00a0Woody Guthrie<\/a>,\u00a0Joan Baez<\/a> and Ewan MacColl. He then spotlighted\u00a0Mavis Staples<\/a>\u00a0and her family, The Staples Singers, who \u201cused to sing before speeches during the American Civil Rights movement that took place in the 1960s.\u201d<\/p>\n

After speaking more about his interest in the civil rights movement and fights for equality, he later said: \u201cReading, at the core of it, I don\u2019t think it\u2019s complicated. I think people want to see human beings live in peace and safety, and security. I think that people would want to see that for their neighbours. They would want to see that for members of their community. I believe that people would want to see people they don\u2019t know live with peace and safety, and security. Am I right?<\/p>\n

\u201cThey wouldn\u2019t want to see their neighbours live in fear of hatred or racism,\u201d he added. \u201cWouldn\u2019t want to see their Jewish friends live in the fear of anti-Semitism, and Muslim brothers and sisters live in the fear of Islamophobia. They want to see their members of the LGBTQ community treated with respect and dignity, and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

The musician continued<\/a>: \u201cSafety and security for everybody in the Middle East means seeing a Palestine that\u2019s free from occupation, that\u2019s free from these cycles of genocide and violence, and it means seeing a Palestine that\u2019s free to move towards meaningful self-determination and statehood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since Hamas\u2019 attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023 that killed over 1100 people and saw 250 taken as hostages,\u00a0multiple UN human-rights experts and UN bodies have stated that Israel\u2019s military actions in Gaza may amount to genocide<\/a>, and the International Court of Justice has found claims of genocide plausible.<\/p>\n

According to the Gaza Health Ministry,\u00a0at least 62,000 Palestinians have been killed<\/a>\u00a0since October 2023.\u00a0Israel rejects the genocide accusations<\/a>\u00a0and denies committing any war crimes, maintaining that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence.<\/p>\n

Fans have criticised the fact that his performance was not livestreamed on\u00a0BBC<\/a> iPlayer. Now, in a statement to Metro<\/a>, the BBC explained why Hozier\u2019s set was not broadcast.<\/p>\n

It read: \u201cViewers can enjoy a wide range of performances and highlights from Reading and Leeds Festival on BBC iPlayer, BBC Music\u2019s YouTube channel, BBC One and Radio 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs mutually agreed ahead of Reading Festival, Hozier chose not to be included in the BBC\u2019s coverage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Metro<\/a> also understands that not all sets are broadcast, and that it is normally previously arranged.<\/p>\n

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so it was either censor yourself or we will do it for you. we don\u2019t stand for this. never will. here\u2019s hozier speech as intended to be heard. pic.twitter.com\/QJIBEaqr51<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/xwszJxPUna<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 evie | BAILEY DAY!!!!!\ud83e\uddc1 (@unrlunrth) August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hozier played tracks including \u2018Nobody\u2019s Soldier\u2019, \u2018Eat Your Young\u2019, \u2018Too Sweet\u2019, \u2018Nina Cried Power\u2019 and \u2018Take Me to Church\u2019. NME gave his set four stars in a review<\/a>, commending it for its ability to draw in a crowd and his speeches.<\/p>\n

It concludes: \u201cDuring his set-defining speech, he declares: \u201cI believe that people would want to see people they don\u2019t know live with peace and safety, and security. Am I right?\u201d When the crowd roars back at him, it\u2019s clear he\u2019s on the right stage and, more importantly, on the right side of history.\u201d<\/p>\n

This comes as the BBC says that\u00a0it will no longer be broadcasting any performances it thinks may be \u201chigh risk\u201d<\/a>\u00a0in the future, after they were criticised for livestreaming\u00a0Bob Vylan<\/a>\u2019s set at\u00a0Glastonbury 2025<\/a>, which saw them\u00a0lead chants of \u201cDeath to the IDF\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fans watching Reading & Leeds from home can follow the\u00a0NME\u2019s liveblog\u00a0here<\/a>. Also find out how to watch and listen on TV and radio\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Check back at\u00a0NME here<\/a> for all the latest news, reviews, interviews, photos and more Reading & Leeds 2025.<\/p>\n