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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

The outspoken punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

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

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events reported two days.

"I believe I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."