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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

This outspoken punk pair ignited significant debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

The artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "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 enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

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

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, 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

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

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