🔗 Share this article

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion after the festival show, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached content standards in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies 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 phrase '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 appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the local population are being slain at an alarming 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 play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere 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 commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."