To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
The Louis Theroux Podcast has lost British Airways as a sponsor after the journalist interviewed one half of the band Bob Vylan, who caused controversy at Glastonbury.
The outspoken punk duo sparked controversy when they led chants of ‘death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)’ at the Worthy Farm Festival.
This led to major outcry and a police investigation – which has since been dropped – after the BBC broadcast the moment live.
Speaking earlier this month on Louis Theroux’s podcast in his first interview since Glastonbury, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, said he is ‘not regretful’ of his Glastonbury chant and would ‘do it again tomorrow’.
It has now been revealed that following this interview, the airline has ‘paused’ its advertising on the podcast, as it ‘breaches’ its sponsorship policy.
A BA spokesperson told the PA news agency: ‘Our sponsorship of the series has now been paused and the advert has been removed.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
‘We’re grateful that this was brought to our attention, as the content clearly breaches our sponsorship policy in relation to politically sensitive or controversial subject matters.
‘We and our third-party media agency have processes in place to ensure these issues don’t occur, and we’re investigating how this happened.’
Vylan’s conversation with Theroux was recorded on October 1, and at the start of the episode, Louis noted it took place before the Manchester synagogue attacks on October 2. The attacks killed two people and left three others injured.
The interview was also before the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on October 10.
The band was investigated by the police following the performance with Glastonbury, and the BBC condemning their on stage comments andPrime Minister Keir Starmer calling it ‘appalling hate speech’.
The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and claimed members of BBC staff told him the set was ‘fantastic’.
The corporation’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) has since found the BBC’s broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.
The artist explained: ‘I honestly hadn’t heard it (the reaction). I hadn’t seen it. Because obviously there was a lot happening at the time. Do you know what I mean?
‘It wasn’t like we came off stage, and everybody was like (gasps). It’s just normal. We come off stage. It’s normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like “That was fantastic! We loved that!”‘
In the podcast, Vylan doubled down on his performance, telling Louis why he didn’t regret making the controversial comments on stage.
‘I’m not regretful of it at all, like the subsequent backlash that I’ve faced. It’s minimal.
‘It’s minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through. If that can be my contribution and if I can have my Palestinian friends and people that I meet from Palestine, that have had to flee, that have lost members in double digits of their family and they can say, yo, your chant, I love it. Or it gave me a breath of fresh air or whatever.
‘And I don’t want to overstate the importance of the chant. That’s not what I’m trying to do, but if I have their support, they’re the people that I’m doing it for, they’re the people that I’m being vocal for, then what is there to regret. Oh, because I’ve upset some right-wing politician or some right-wing media?’
The Louis Theroux Podcast is available on Spotify now.
Metro has reached out to The Louis Theroux podcast for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.