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The frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken punk duo ignited significant controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

The artist added that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated content standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed 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 was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That 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 seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' 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 answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions 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 local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

When Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."