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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music duo ignited widespread controversy when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the members' visas, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at 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 "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"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 sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."