British Airways has paused its sponsorship of The Louis Theroux Podcast after an interview with Bob Vylan’s frontman, Bobby Vylan. The artist, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, appeared on the podcast this week, stating he was "not regretful" of leading "death, death to the IDF" chants at the band’s Glastonbury performance this summer, adding he would "do it again tomorrow".
British Airways has suspended its sponsorship of The Louis Theroux Podcast after an episode featuring Bobby Vylan, the frontman of the British punk duo Bob Vylan, whose outspoken criticism of Israel and the army's conduct in Gaza drew sharp reaction from pro-Israel lobby groups and MPs.
The airline said it withdrew its adverts from the BBC journalist's podcast following the artist’s appearance, in which he said he was "not regretful" of leading chants of "death, death to the IDF" during Bob Vylan's Glastonbury performance this summer.
"I'd do it again tomorrow," he told Theroux, adding that any backlash he faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through".
British Airways told PA Media the episode breached its sponsorship policy on "politically sensitive or controversial subjects". A spokesperson said: "Our sponsorship of the series has now been paused and the advert has been removed... we're grateful this was brought to our attention".
The decision followed pressure from pro-Israel advocacy groups and several MPs who condemned Bobby Vylan’s comments and called for action against platforms seen to "amplify hate speech".
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish News both published statements accusing the musician of promoting violence, while social media campaigns tagged #BoycottBA and #DropTheroux circulated among Israel-aligned accounts before the airline's announcement.
Bobby Vylan performed in front of a Palestinian flag at Glastonbury in June. The BBC, which livestreamed the set, later admitted it breached editorial guidelines on "harm and offence" by failing to cut the feed.
Since then, the duo Bob Vylan have faced mounting industry pressure. They were dropped by their talent agency UTA, barred from a US tour after their visas were revoked, and forced to postpone UK shows in Manchester and elsewhere following lobbying by Jewish community leaders.
Despite the backlash, the group's album Humble as the Sun surged back into the charts, topping the UK Hip Hop and R&B rankings. Fans have rallied behind their We Won’t Go Quietly 2025 tour, interpreting the controversy as part of a broader attempt to silence pro-Palestine artists.
In his interview, Bobby Vylan defended his stance, saying: "If I can have my Palestinian friends who've lost family say ‘your chant gave me a breath of fresh air’, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I’ve upset some rightwing politician or media?"
Louis Theroux has not commented on British Airways' decision.