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

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal music duo ignited widespread debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury 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:

"Absolutely. 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 do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the local population 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 entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."