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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This outspoken music duo sparked significant controversy when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first interview after the festival show, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival 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 duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

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

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the show breached content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed 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 comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."