Mocking the Dead: Bob Vylan’s Descent Into Hate

British rapper Bob Vylan continues to prove that his platform is built on provocation and hate. Earlier this summer, he was stripped of his U.S. visa after openly calling for the death of IDF soldiers during a June performance. That incident drew international condemnation, especially from Jewish and pro-Israel groups, who warned that such rhetoric fuels dangerous hostility rather than meaningful dialogue.

Now, in an Amsterdam show at the iconic Paradiso club, Vylan took his rhetoric even lower, choosing to mock the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. On stage, he sneered:

“I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of shit of a human being. The pronouns was / were. Because if you talk shit, you will get banged. Rest in peace Charlie Kirk, you piece of sh*t.”

For me as an artist, to see Amsterdam’s famous music hall, Paradiso, turn into a place of hate is just heartbreaking. Over the past 19 years, I’ve witnessed so many wonderful acts there, so many of my heroes gracing that stage. To have the final accord end in such sadness is truly devastating.

This isn’t art. It’s incitement. Instead of music being used to bridge divides or inspire change, Vylan weaponizes his stage to celebrate death and demonize entire groups of people. His remarks, cheered by some in the audience, reflect a broader trend of performers exploiting shock value at the expense of basic decency.

The normalization of such rhetoric is dangerous. When crowds applaud hatred, it emboldens others to follow. Vylan may claim to represent resistance, but his message is not liberation — it is vengeance, contempt, and violence wrapped in a beat.

While free speech protects expression, audiences, promoters, and streaming platforms must ask: how much longer will hate speech disguised as performance be tolerated? When artists glorify violence and mock the dead, they cross a moral line that no amount of “creative license” can justify. Society should demand better from its artists — and refuse to reward those who profit from spreading hate.