🔗 Share this article

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken punk pair sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. 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 "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The artist said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the show breached content guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

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

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled 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 just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

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

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."