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The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

The outspoken punk pair sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' visas, compelling the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose 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."

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in relation to offense and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."