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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

The outspoken music duo ignited significant controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated content guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan 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 sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

When he said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."