Bobby Vylan's Stance on Glastonbury Israel Defense Forces Protest: "No Regrets"

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

The vocal punk duo ignited widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the US government cancelled the members' visas, compelling them to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion after the festival performance, 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 replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

He told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

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

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."