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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair sparked significant controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, 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 replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on 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 added that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the show breached content standards in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the local people are being slain 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 perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

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

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."