🔗 Share this article

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

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

The vocal punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely 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 criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The artist said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan 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 Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."