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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The chant was censured by Glastonbury 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 cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like suppose 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."

The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, they're the people 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 upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

Albarn's reaction 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 position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue 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 wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase 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 songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."