Bobby Vylan's Stance on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "Zero Remorse"

The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"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 do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals 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 upset some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a dispute 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 was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he mentioned he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."