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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

This vocal music duo ignited widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. 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 them to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial interview after the festival performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. 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 Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's airing of the show breached editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

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

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."