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The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival 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 chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," 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 Slogan

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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 songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."