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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This outspoken punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."