🔗 Share this article

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

This vocal music pair ignited significant controversy when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on the festival 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 individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."