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The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk duo sparked significant debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the people 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 upset some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician claimed he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the show violated content standards in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, 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 Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."