Bobby Vylan Position on Festival IDF Protest: "No Regrets"
Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Controversial Chant and Political Reactions
This outspoken punk pair ignited significant debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."
After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.
Conversation with the Podcaster
In his initial interview after the festival show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:
"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He noted that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."
On the Protest's Significance
"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"
Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback
The artist said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the chant, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."
However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to harm and offence.
He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"
Reply to Damon Albarn
Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."
Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.
"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.
"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."
Intent Behind the Chant
After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."
"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."
Denial of Antisemitism Claims
Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.
"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.
Contrast with Other Bands
When he mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."