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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

The outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

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 set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

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

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' 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 answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

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

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Other Artists

When he said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."