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

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

The vocal music pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

The artist noted that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Feedback

The artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

As Vylan said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

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