Hozier’s Reading and Leeds headline set was not included in BBC coverage after the singer spoke about Palestine during his performance.
The Irish singer headlined Reading Festival on August 22. However, the BBC did not livestream his set or upload it to BBC iPlayer.
Fans questioned the decision after the broadcaster made sets from other major artists available online.
The BBC and festival organisers later said Hozier and his team agreed to the decision before the festival.
‘A Palestine that’s free from occupation’
Hozier used his Reading Festival performance to discuss music, politics and Palestine.
The singer praised artists including Nina Simone, Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez and Ewan MacColl.
He also performed his hit song “Take Me To Church”.
He continued: “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’t know live with peace and safety, and security.
“They wouldn’t want to see their neighbours live in fear of hatred or racism. Wouldn’t 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.”
Hozier then addressed the situation in Gaza.
He said: “Safety and security for everybody in the Middle East means seeing a Palestine that’s free from occupation, that’s free from these cycles of genocide and violence, and it means seeing a Palestine that’s free to move towards meaningful self-determination and statehood.”
Hozier speaks about peace and security
During his speech, Hozier discussed free speech and the role of democratic voices.
He also encouraged fans to think about how they use their purchasing power.
The singer called for a meaningful political solution that could bring peace and security.
Hozier said:
“I believe in a Palestine that’s free from occupation, free from genocide, free from violence and with the right to self-determination and statehood.”
He also spoke about the need to oppose anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
Hozier has previously spoken about humanitarian issues and political conflicts during his performances.
Hozier mentions Palestine Action
Hozier also referred to Palestine Action during his comments.
He discussed the group in the context of protest and political expression.
The UK government has designated Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
Hozier questioned whether certain forms of protest should receive that label.
He also referred to an incident involving activists spray-painting an aircraft.
The singer argued that such actions did not automatically amount to terrorism.
His comments came during a wider discussion about political expression and the role of musicians.
Hozier also mentioned other Irish musicians who have spoken about Palestine.
The discussion followed controversy surrounding Kneecap and comments made by Mo Chara.
Hozier chose not to be included in coverage: BBC
Many fans reacted on X after the BBC left Hozier’s performance out of its coverage.
Some users linked the decision to his comments about Palestine.
“Imagine having Hozier as a HEADLINER at Reading/Leeds and then choosing not to stream his set because he’s too political and you’re scared of Israel. The BBC is so embarrassing,” X user @gooseberrydream wrote, according to The Metro.
Another user, @mountbellyache, posted: “The BBC didn’t stream his headline set for fear of what Hozier might say about Palestine. The average Irish citizen has more integrity in their little finger than the entire BBC and Labour Party put together.”
The BBC rejected that interpretation in its statement to The Metro.
The broadcaster said, “Viewers can enjoy a wide range of performances and highlights from Reading and Leeds Festival on BBC iPlayer, BBC Music’s YouTube channel, BBC One and Radio 1.”
It added: “As mutually agreed ahead of Reading Festival, Hozier chose not to be included in the BBC’s coverage.”
The Reading and Leeds Festival account later posted the full audio of Hozier’s speech on TikTok.
The organiser also explained why the BBC did not film his performance.
The post said: “Hozier’s set wasn’t filmed by the BBC because he & his management wanted to control the output with their own director.”
“The BBC couldn’t agree to that, so Hozier & his team performed and directed the screen output for the Reading & Leeds audience only,” it added.
At the time of writing, Hozier and his team had not released a separate statement about the situation.
No ‘high risk’ performances
The BBC faced criticism earlier in the year over its coverage of Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance.
The British punk-rap duo performed at the festival in June.
During the set, lead singer Bobby Vylan led chants of “death, death to the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces)”.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the performance as “appalling hate speech”.
He also said the BBC had “questions to answer,” according to NPR.
The incident prompted the BBC to review its approach to live music broadcasts.
The broadcaster then announced “immediate changes to livestreaming music events.”
The BBC said: “Any music performances deemed high risk by the BBC will now not be broadcast live or streamed live” in the future.
The Hozier situation has therefore raised further questions about how the BBC handles potentially controversial live performances.
At the same time, the BBC and Reading and Leeds Festival have said that Hozier chose not to join the broadcaster’s coverage by mutual agreement.
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