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The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

The outspoken music duo ignited widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The 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, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance 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 say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's 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 upset some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This artist said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

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

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."