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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

The vocal music pair ignited widespread debate when they initiated audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the festival performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU later found 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 immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," 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 wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

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

Comparison with Other Artists

As he said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."