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The frontman 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 Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a planned North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

He added that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people 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 official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated editorial guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

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

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue 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 appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

When he mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."