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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

The outspoken punk pair ignited significant controversy when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance 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 added that the criticism the band encountered 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 slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the show violated content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

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

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he said he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."