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

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

The outspoken music duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'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 lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As he said he felt the duo had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

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