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

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

This outspoken punk pair ignited widespread debate when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like 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."

The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the show violated editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

He 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's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As he mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."