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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

The outspoken music pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling them to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion since the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like 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 do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance 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, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

The artist said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

He told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' 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 appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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 lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

When he said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."