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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

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

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"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 wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced 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 comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."