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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

The vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the show breached content guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

He told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

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

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

When Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."