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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal music pair sparked significant controversy when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing them to call off a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first public discussion after the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."