🔗 Share this article

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited significant controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are 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 angered some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."