Bob Vylan's Stance on Glastonbury Israel Defense Forces Chant: "Zero Regrets"

Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal punk duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's 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 feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

The artist said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial standards in relation to offense and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, 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 comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."