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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal punk pair sparked significant debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This artist said 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 performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' 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 disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

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

"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. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As he said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."