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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 Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal music duo ignited significant debate when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This 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 dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the festival show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was surprised 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 set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's 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 views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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 songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

When he said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."