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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal music duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a planned North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, 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 "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase '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 disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

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

Contrast with Different Bands

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."