Jeremy Corbyn: Glastonbury Drops ‘Conspiracy Theory’ Movie
The festival said while it believed the film had been booked “in good faith,” it decided a screening was not appropriate.
This comes after the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BDBJ) expressed “deep concern” over the film, titled Oh, Jeremy Corbyn: The Big Lie, which was being produced by Platform Films.
We are pleased that following a letter we sent today, @glastonbury have announced the cancellation of the screening of this film. Hateful conspiracy theories should have no place in our society. pic.twitter.com/LnZ0HMFnsy
— British Jew Board of Deputies (@BoardofDeputies) June 19, 2023
The film was due to be shown at Pilton Palais cinema in Glastonbury on June 25 and has been dubbed “the banned Corbyn documentary”, according to BDBJ.
A statement attributed to Glastonbury said: “While we believe that Pilton Palais booked this film in good faith and in the hope of sparking a political debate, it has become clear that it is not appropriate for us to allow it to be screened to show at the festival.”
“Glastonbury is about unity, not division, and we oppose any form of discrimination.”
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The reaction came after Marie van der Zyl, president of the Jewish local organization Board of Deputies, said it would be “deeply spooky” if such a film were shown at the festival.
Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses the crowd from the Pyramid stage in Glastonbury in 2017 (PA)
In a letter to Glastonbury organizers Michael and Emily Eavis, Ms Van der Zyl expressed her “deep concern”.
“We understand that this film suggests that organizations such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews, of which I am President, somehow helped ‘orchestrate’ Jeremy Corbyn’s fall as Labor Party leader,” wrote Ms van der Zyl.
She added that the reported decision to screen the film was “worrying” and continued: “Your festival is one of the most successful festivals in the UK.”
“It seems profoundly sinister that it would provide a platform for a film that clearly aims to indoctrinate people into believing a conspiracy theory that effectively targets Jewish organizations.”
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“We would like to ask you not to allow your festival to be hijacked by those who want to promote hatred without any basis whatsoever, just as we would hope your festival would not show films promoting other conspiracy theories such as anti-vaccination, 9/11 Truther or Chemtrails.”
The BDBJ later stated that it was delighted that the film would no longer be shown at the festival.
“We are delighted that @glastonbury has announced the cancellation of the screening of this film, following a letter we sent today,” the organization wrote on Twitter.
“Hateful conspiracy theories should have no place in our society.”
Platform Films has been contacted for comment.
