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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair ignited widespread controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

The artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the performance breached content standards in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

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

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

"I need 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 explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit 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 disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I believe I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

When Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."