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The frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal punk pair sparked significant controversy when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' 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 answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As he mentioned he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."