Bobby Vylan Position on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "Zero Remorse"
The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Controversial Chant and Political Responses
The outspoken music duo ignited widespread debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."
After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a planned North American concert series.
Interview with Louis Theroux
During his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:
"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He noted that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."
Regarding the Protest's Significance
"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"
Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments
This artist claimed he was taken aback 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."
Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.
He told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Reply to Blur Frontman
The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."
Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.
"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.
"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."
Meaning Behind the Slogan
After questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."
"The key issue is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."
Denial of Hate Speech Claims
The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.
"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.
Contrast with Different Artists
When Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."