🔗 Share this article

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music pair ignited widespread debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury 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 noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance violated content standards in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions 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 noted: "'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

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."