Bobby Vylan Stance on Festival IDF Protest: "No Remorse"

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This vocal music pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's airing of the show violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As he said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."