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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

The vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a planned North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

He added that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This musician said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase 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 play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events reported later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

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