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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 asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

The outspoken punk pair sparked widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop 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. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

As Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."