Bobby Vylan Position on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "Zero Remorse"

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

The outspoken punk pair ignited significant controversy when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at 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."

He added that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase '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 offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."