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

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This outspoken punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

The artist added that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Feedback

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's airing of the show violated editorial standards in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

When questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he said he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."