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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

The outspoken music duo ignited significant debate when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a planned North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first 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:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This musician claimed he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content standards in relation to offense and offence.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies 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 only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'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 chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. 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 said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."