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

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music pair ignited widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the festival show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, 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 upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in relation to harm 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's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. 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 bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When Vylan said he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "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 opponent."