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The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated 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."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited widespread debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his first interview since the festival performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist said he was taken aback 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 performance was "excellent."

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

He told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

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 Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

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

Comparison with Other Artists

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish group another band, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."