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The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

The vocal music pair ignited significant controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

He added that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This artist said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan 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 [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan 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 "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' 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 Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As he mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."