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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 "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

This outspoken music duo ignited significant controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"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 language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian 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, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers 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.

Comparison with Different Bands

When Vylan said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."