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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal punk pair ignited widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on 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."

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

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the band 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 only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place 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. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."