Bobby Vylan's Stance on Festival IDF Protest: "No Remorse"

Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

The outspoken punk duo sparked significant debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' 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."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned 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 exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."