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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

The outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest'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 backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's airing of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" 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 sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

As he said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."