Bob Vylan Stance on Festival IDF Chant: "No Regrets"

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

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This outspoken music pair ignited significant controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and stated that members of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

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

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop 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. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."