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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

This vocal music duo ignited significant debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely 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 band encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later found that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."