British rapper Bob Vylan, born Pascal Robinson-Foster, ignited an international firestorm after his performance at last week’s Glastonbury festival. It is his audacious maneuvers on stage that have audiences talking, arguing and buzzing. During the action, Vylan vigorously directed the crowd to chant “death, death to the IDF.” This has caused public outrage, leading to backlash and even death threats against the artist.
The repercussions from his actions have been immediate. His agency, United Talent Agency, has dropped him. At the same time, the U.S. State Department has canceled the visas of Bob Vylan’s members. This visa revocation has effectively forced them to cancel their upcoming North American tour, which included scheduled performances in several major cities, such as Manchester.
That controversy was further stoked by an interview with Louis Theroux, recorded on October 1st. During this interview, Vylan showed zero contrition for the havoc he wreaked at Glastonbury. He stated, “I’m not regretful of it at all… I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays.” He reiterated that the backlash he received was “nothing” compared to the fight going on in Palestine right now. Vylan added, “If that can be my contribution… and they can say: ‘Yo, your chant, I love it,’” he would stand by his words.
Due its resulting backlash, one major airline has withdrawn its ads from Theroux’s podcast after airing an interview with Vylan. The decision came after numerous calls from Members of Parliament and Jewish community leaders urging for action against the musician’s remarks. Because of this pressure, Vylan were forced to reschedule two shows. Out of those shows though, one was particularly special as it was going to take place in Manchester.
Vylan’s incendiary performance at Glastonbury was livestreamed by the BBC, spreading his rancorous chants to millions—even prompting a government inquiry, as one does. The reaction has been polarizing. While many have criticized him for his statements, others have supported his right to voice his opinions.