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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal music pair ignited widespread debate when they initiated audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely 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 band encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

The artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

When he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."