Bob Vylan Position on Glastonbury Israel Defense Forces Protest: "No Regrets"
Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses
This vocal punk pair ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."
After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.
Conversation with Louis Theroux
During his first public discussion since the festival show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal 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, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
The artist added that the criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."
On the Protest's Significance
"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"
Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments
This musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."
However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.
Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Reply to Blur Frontman
Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."
His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.
"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.
"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."
Meaning Behind the Slogan
When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."
"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.
"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."
Denial of Hate Speech Claims
Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.
"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.
Comparison with Different Artists
As Vylan said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.
"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."