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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

The vocal music pair ignited widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion after the festival show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's airing of the show breached editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.

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

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need 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 term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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 lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he said he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."