Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions
The outspoken punk pair sparked widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."
Following the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.
Interview with the Podcaster
During his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:
"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."
Regarding the Chant's Significance
"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"
Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback
The artist said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."
However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in regard to harm and hurt.
He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"
Reply to Blur Frontman
Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."
Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.
"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.
"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."
Meaning Behind the Chant
After questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."
"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.
"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."
Rejection of Antisemitism Claims
Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.
"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.
Comparison with Different Bands
As he mentioned he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.
"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."
