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

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

The outspoken music duo ignited widespread controversy when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, compelling them to call off a planned North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on 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 noted 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 significance of the slogan," 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 speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the show breached content standards in regard to offense and offence.

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

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

When Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."