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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal music duo ignited significant controversy when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview after the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on 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 added that the backlash the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

When questioned what he meant 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 platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."