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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

The artist added that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if 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? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy 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 thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

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

Comparison with Different Artists

When he said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."