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

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

He added that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are 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 conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

The artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance breached content standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He told Theroux 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 come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

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

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests 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 added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he said he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."