🔗 Share this article

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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

The outspoken punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the festival show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

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

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate 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, 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 conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial 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 [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

When Vylan said he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."