🔗 Share this article

The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken music pair ignited significant controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The chant 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 released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose 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 go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later determined that the network's airing of the show breached content guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan 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 tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

As he said he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."