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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal music duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose 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."

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

The musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed 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 [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. 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 bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."