🔗 Share this article

The frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

The outspoken punk pair sparked widespread debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, 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? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The musician claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later found that the network's airing of the show breached content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish band another band, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."