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The frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like 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."

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

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

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

When he mentioned he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."