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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

This vocal punk duo ignited significant debate when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview since the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

He noted that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, 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? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."