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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal music duo ignited significant debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

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

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction 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 duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, 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 slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."