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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken music pair sparked widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose 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 added that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the network's airing of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

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

Comparison with Different Bands

When he mentioned he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."