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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated 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 Political Reactions

The vocal punk duo ignited significant debate when they initiated audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US government revoked the members' visas, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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 lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."