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

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This vocal music pair ignited significant debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

He noted that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals 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 rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "since as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."