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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal music pair ignited widespread debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. 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 say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it 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?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance violated content standards in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."