Bobby Vylan's Position on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "No Regrets"

The 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 Reactions

This vocal punk duo ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if 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 backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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 slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."