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Punk duo frontman of Bob 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."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The outspoken music duo sparked significant debate when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. 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 say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's airing of the show violated content standards in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue 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 response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

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

Comparison with Other Bands

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

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