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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial interview after the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

He told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan 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 sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies 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 term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important 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 Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."