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

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

The vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

He added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're 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 rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

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

Reply 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 characterized him as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.

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

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."