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The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music duo sparked significant debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

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

Contrast with Different Artists

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."