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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This outspoken music pair ignited significant debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate 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, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The musician said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's airing of the performance violated content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

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

Response to Damon Albarn

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

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

"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 Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

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

"I believe I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

As Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."