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

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

This outspoken music pair ignited significant controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, forcing them to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the festival performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's airing of the show violated content guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic events recorded later.

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

Comparison with Different Artists

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."