Bob Vylan's Position on Festival Israel Defense Forces Protest: "Zero Regrets"

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This outspoken punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to 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 described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

He noted that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's airing of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End 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. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he said he felt the duo had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."