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

Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

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

After the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion since the festival performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to go on 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."

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the network's airing of the show breached editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

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

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

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

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

Contrast with Different Bands

As he said he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."