Bobby Vylan Position on Festival Israel Defense Forces Protest: "Zero Remorse"

The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music pair sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial interview after the festival show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

The artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

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

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" 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 play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he mentioned he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

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