Bobby Vylan's Stance on Glastonbury IDF Protest: "No Remorse"

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

The musician claimed he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."