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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair sparked significant controversy when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

He noted that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

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

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

When he said he felt the duo had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."