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The frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair ignited significant debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the festival show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the show violated editorial standards in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' 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 response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

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

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he said he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."