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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

The vocal punk pair sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC 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 seen in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

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

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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 songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

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