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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated 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 Political Responses

This vocal punk pair sparked widespread debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview since the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

As Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."