Banksy has reportedly been revealed as the mind behind the blow-up boat filled with migrant dummies that appeared in large numbers at Glastonbury on Saturday night.
The stunt, which took place on Idles night at the Somerset-based festival, saw inflatable rafts filled with life jacket-clad models – representing migrants – suddenly launched into the audience.
People initially thought it was part of a Bristol rock band’s show because it appeared during a song with lyrics that called for empathy for the plight of immigrants and criticized the government.
However, a representative for the group confirmed that the boat had been created by anonymous street and performance artist Banksy.
Furthermore, Idles did not find out about the stunt until after the conclusion of the title set on Another Stage, according to The Guardian.
When Idles’ was launched to Danny Nedelko, and the boat was released, frontman Joe Talbot began to sing: ‘My brother is an immigrant, a beautiful immigrant. Freddie Mercury is my blood brother, Nigerian mother of three. He is made of bones, he is made of blood. He is made of flesh, he is made of love.
‘They are made of you, they are made of me. united. Fear leads to panic, panic leads to pain. Pain begets anger, anger begets hate.’
In an impassioned set, which saw the band call for a ceasefire in Palestine and included Talbot leading the crowd in a chant of ‘f**k the King’, Danny Nedelko was called an ‘anti-Farage’ song by the frontman. , although the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also been pushed to stop the boat sailing to England with Rwanda’s policy.
The scene was broadcast live on the BBC and, contrary to reports, the boat can still be seen in the set’s highlights coverage available on BBC iPlayer.
The move proved divisive with fans at home, with Simon Geraghty at X congratulating Banksy for his ‘great prop agit’, while @Nullen80 linked to the coverage and added: ‘You gotta love Banksy.’
Angie Moxham also praised the artist for ‘never letting us down’.
However, it also sparked controversy with others labeling it a ‘clumsy political art misstep’.
‘(It) takes a huge problem where we disinterest and other costs of human life every day … so something to literally throw around for a rock band,’ complained CJ Thorpe-Tracey.
‘Probably no one in the crowd, at that moment, had the context of Banksy’s ship or the lyrics. And frankly, I find so many people using alcohol and drugs that make so many desperate refugees in lifeboats, ignorantly and cheerfully, rather repugnant,’ posted @Aimz_1987.
However, the respectful exchange saw @userfriendlylad play self-proclaimed devil’s advocate, pointing out: ‘All Idles fans know the song and know it’s pro-immigration, so I think they’ll fully understand what they’re doing (however awkward).’
Although Idles may not have known beforehand, he clocked the boat during the set, with Talbot telling band member Mark Bowen while crowdsurfing: ‘Make sure you go to that dog king’s raft to get it on TV. .’
It’s not the first time Banksy – also from Bristol – has attended Glastonbury. Back in 2019, he designed an anti-stab vest emblazoned with Stormzy’s Union Jack which he wore to headline the Pyramid Stage.
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Banksy and Idles for comment.
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