Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses
The outspoken punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."
After the incident, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.
Interview with Louis Theroux
During his first interview since the festival show, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:
"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
The artist added that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."
Regarding the Chant's Importance
"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, they're the people 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 conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"
Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments
This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."
However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content standards in regard to harm and hurt.
He told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Reply to Damon Albarn
The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."
His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.
"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance 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. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."
Meaning Behind the Slogan
After questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."
"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.
"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."
Denial of Antisemitism Allegations
Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.
"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.
Comparison with Different Artists
As he said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."
