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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

This vocal punk duo ignited widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the members' visas, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion since the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, 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? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"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 offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

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