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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music duo sparked widespread controversy when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department revoked the members' visas, compelling them to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' 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 disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."