🔗 Share this article

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed 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 Reactions

This vocal music duo ignited significant debate when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the festival show, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the show breached content standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

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

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."