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The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy 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 thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

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

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."