🔗 Share this article

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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal punk pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June 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 released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose 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 backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people 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 media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the show violated editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

When Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."