Bobby Vylan Stance on Glastonbury IDF Protest: "Zero Remorse"

The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

The vocal punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even take place 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 said.

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since 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 opponent."

Joseph Moody
Joseph Moody

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