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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

The outspoken punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

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

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

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals 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?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the performance breached content standards in regard to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "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 crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' 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 response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF 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. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported later.

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

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."