The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Chant and Political Reactions
This vocal punk pair ignited significant controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."
After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a planned North American concert series.
Conversation with Louis Theroux
In his first interview after the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:
"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He added that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."
On the Protest's Significance
"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"
Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments
This musician said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."
Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.
Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Response to Blur Frontman
The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."
Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.
"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.
"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."
Intent Behind the Slogan
When questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."
"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.
"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."
Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations
Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded later.
"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.
Comparison with Different Bands
As Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."
