Bobby Vylan's Stance on Festival Israel Defense Forces Protest: "No Remorse"

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited widespread controversy when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the members' visas, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the festival show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's airing of the show breached editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."