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The frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

The vocal punk pair ignited significant debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's 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 band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.

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

Comparison with Different Bands

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."