Bobby Vylan's Position on Glastonbury IDF Protest: "Zero Remorse"

Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

The vocal punk pair ignited significant controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival show, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Feedback

The artist said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the show breached content standards in regard to offense and offence.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need 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 explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."