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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated content standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

When questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."