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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal punk duo ignited significant debate when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's airing of the show breached content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no 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 stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"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. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."