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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

This vocal punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion after the festival show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Protest's Significance

"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 the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."