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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk pair ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion since the festival show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if 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."

He added that the criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated content standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

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

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF 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. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

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

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

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