Bob Vylan's Stance on Festival Israel Defense Forces Chant: "Zero Remorse"

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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal music duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first public discussion since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's 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 official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

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

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

When Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."