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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

The outspoken punk duo sparked significant debate when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the festival show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "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 advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he mentioned he felt the duo 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 criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."