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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

This vocal music pair sparked significant controversy when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, 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, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview after the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

He told the host there was no sign 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. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."