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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

The vocal music duo ignited widespread debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling them to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are 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 angered some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's airing of the show breached content guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, 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 Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals 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 Bands

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."