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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

He noted that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their 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 rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

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

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Bands

When Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."