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

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal music duo sparked widespread debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the festival show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

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

He noted that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

The 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 same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the local population 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 spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As he said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "since as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."