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

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

The vocal music pair sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

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

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed 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, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."