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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken music pair ignited significant debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his first interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals 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 rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

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

"I strongly object with the phrase '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 disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters 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 entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

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

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

When Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."