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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal punk pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' 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 answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."