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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

The outspoken music pair sparked widespread debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. 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."

He noted that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."