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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken punk pair sparked significant debate when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the US state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

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

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, 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 angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," 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 Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish band another band, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

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