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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 declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk pair sparked significant debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

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

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated 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."

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he mentioned he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."