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The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

This vocal music duo sparked significant debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion since the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

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 support, these are the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

This artist said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"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 sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."