British Airways Drops Podcast Sponsorship After Bob Vylan Controversy
So here’s the latest buzz in music and media. British Airways has decided to pull its sponsorship from Louis Theroux’s podcast, all because of an interview with Bob Vylan’s frontman, Pascal Robinson-Foster. You might remember the uproar from Glastonbury this summer—Bob Vylan led chants of “death, death to the IDF,” and it sparked major backlash. Well, in the podcast, Vylan made it clear he doesn’t regret it and even said he’d do it again without hesitation. That frankness appears to have crossed the line for the airline.
A British Airways spokesperson explained that the content violated the company’s sponsorship policy, which avoids politically sensitive or controversial material. They confirmed that ads had been pulled and sponsorship paused, noting that their processes are being reviewed to figure out how this slipped through. Essentially, the airline wants to make sure they aren’t associated with content that could spark controversy on such a hot-button issue.
This isn’t just a headline-grabbing quote—it’s had tangible consequences for the band. Following Glastonbury, Bob Vylan had to postpone multiple gigs, including a Manchester show, after pressure from MPs and Jewish community leaders. Their agency UTA dropped them, and visas for a North American tour were revoked, forcing cancellations abroad. Even the BBC faced criticism, as Vylan’s Glastonbury performance was livestreamed, and their Executive Complaints Unit later ruled that the broadcast broke editorial guidelines concerning harm and offence.
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In the podcast, Theroux directly asked Vylan whether he stood by the chant, and his response was strikingly unapologetic. He said he would do it again, emphasizing that his actions were meant to support Palestinian friends and highlight the struggles they face. He framed the backlash he received as minimal compared to the real suffering on the ground in Palestine, and insisted that he wasn’t performing for the media or politicians but for those directly affected.
Despite the controversy, the band has maintained strong support from fans. Their album, Humble As The Sun , re-entered the charts, topping the UK Hip Hop and R&B album category. The band also clarified on social media that, while some shows had to be rescheduled due to political pressure, all other dates were continuing as planned.
Louis Theroux, for his part, hasn’t publicly commented on BA’s sponsorship pause. Mindhouse Productions, which produces the podcast, highlighted that Theroux has a long history of speaking with controversial figures and suggested listeners check out the interview in full for context.
So, this story is a clear example of how music, politics, and corporate sponsorship can collide in unexpected ways. It’s a reminder that a few words on stage—or in a podcast—can ripple far beyond the concert or recording studio. The fallout from Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury chant is still echoing, and now it has reached the boardrooms of major airlines.
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