Bobby Vylan Stance on Glastonbury IDF Protest: "Zero Remorse"
The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses
This vocal punk pair sparked widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."
After the event, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.
Conversation with the Podcaster
In his initial interview after the festival performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:
"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury 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 noted that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."
On the Chant's Significance
"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"
Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback
The artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."
However, the corporation's ECU later found that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial standards in regard to harm and hurt.
He told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Reply to Blur Frontman
Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."
His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.
"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation 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 language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."
Meaning Behind the Chant
After questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."
"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.
"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."
Denial of Antisemitism Allegations
Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.
"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.
Contrast with Other Bands
As he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."