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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 "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

The outspoken punk pair ignited widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview after the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached content standards in relation to harm and offence.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back 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 "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."

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

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "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 lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

When Vylan said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."