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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

The vocal music duo ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the artists' visas, forcing them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

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

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

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, 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 Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU later found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content standards in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan 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 "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

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

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."