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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music duo ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury 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 show breached content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF 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 lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

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

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If 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 commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

As he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."