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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance breached editorial guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Artists

When he said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."