🔗 Share this article

Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal punk pair ignited widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if 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 criticism the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue 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 killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "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 songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

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