Bobby Vylan's Position on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "Zero Regrets"

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

The outspoken punk duo ignited significant controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

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

Reply to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

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

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'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 songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."