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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk duo ignited significant debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling them to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. 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 "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it 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 politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan 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 "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events reported later.

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

Contrast with Different Artists

As he said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "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."