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

Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This outspoken music pair ignited widespread controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance 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."

He added that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

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

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

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."