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

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

The outspoken punk duo ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

As he said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."