Bobby Vylan Stance on Glastonbury IDF Protest: "No Regrets"
The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Controversial Chant and Political Responses
This outspoken punk pair sparked significant debate when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."
After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.
Conversation with Louis Theroux
During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:
"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He added that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."
Regarding the Chant'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 their support, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"
Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback
The artist said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."
Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial standards in regard to harm and hurt.
He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"
Response to Damon Albarn
Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."
Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.
"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.
"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."
Intent Behind the Slogan
After asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."
"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'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 assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.
"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.
Contrast with Other Artists
When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.
"That's a notable point," he said, "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 inherently the enemy."