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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The outspoken punk duo sparked significant debate when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Protest'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 since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are 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 conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."