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The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

The vocal music duo ignited widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to go on 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 duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, they're the people that I'm advocating 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 conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

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

However, the corporation's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish group another band, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."