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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated 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 Responses

This vocal punk duo sparked widespread debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" 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 sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."