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The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

The vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

The artist added that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The musician said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment 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 effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

As Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."