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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This vocal punk duo ignited significant debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his first interview after the festival show, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the show breached content standards in regard to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

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

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "since as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."