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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken punk pair sparked significant debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like 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."

He noted that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the views 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 only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."