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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal music duo ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival 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 duo encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"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, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content standards in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

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

Contrast with Different Artists

As he said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."