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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

This outspoken music pair sparked significant debate when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End 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 chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

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

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan said he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."