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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

The outspoken punk duo ignited significant debate when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial interview after the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely 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 duo encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The musician said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."