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

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

The outspoken music pair ignited significant debate when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

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

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival 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 criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"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 songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

As he said he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."