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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited widespread controversy when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Protest'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 their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

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

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's airing of the performance violated editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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 lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic events reported two days.

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

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."