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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music duo ignited significant debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want 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 people that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

The artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' 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 response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."