British Airways faces backlash for withdrawing sponsorship of Louis Theroux podcast after Bob Vylan interview

“I would do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays,” said the frontman of punk duo Bob Vylan, Bobby Vylan, on The Louis Theroux Podcast, in response to his chanting of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]” at this year’s Glastonbury. This move caused major waves across the entire media space, but most notably from British Airways, now pausing its sponsorship of the podcast.

Last week, a British Airways spokesperson said such content (Vylan’s appearance on the BA-sponsored Theroux podcast) “breaches” its sponsorship policy. They added: “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.”

Louis Theroux is not someone who is unknown for interviewing controversial figures

However, Louis Theroux is not someone who is unknown for interviewing controversial figures. This is something reiterated by a spokesperson from Mind House Productions, the company founded by Theroux, which produces his podcast, as they told Sky News: “Louis is a journalist with a long history of speaking to controversial figures who may divide opinion. We would suggest people watch or listen to the interview in its entirety to get the full context of the conversation.”

They got articulate and considered responses to each question with facts to back it up when needed. Their hope to further vilify me couldn’t run, so they target Louis to make an example for sitting with me

– Bobby Vylan

This stands true even beyond his podcast, as earlier this year he released a BBC documentary, The Settlers, in which people such as Daniella Weiss, an Israeli settler leader who has been sanctioned by the UK for actions relating to violence against Palestinians, are featured. Yet, following the actions of the frontman (real name Pascal Robinson-Foster) at Glastonbury, the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit found the broadcast of his set to have breached harm and offence editorial standards.

Naturally Bobby Vylan did not take the backlash lying down, tweeting: “They got articulate and considered responses to each question with facts to back it up when needed. Their hope to further vilify me couldn’t run, so they target Louis to make an example for sitting with me.” He was also not the only one to take to the internet airwaves following BA’s sponsorship withdrawal announcement. A social media storm saw backlash to BA’s decision, with journalist Barry Malone also tweeting, “They’ve badly misjudged by folding to the Israel lobby – most people are firmly behind Louis”, and numerous people calling the move an “own goal” for the airline as people call for them to be boycotted.

The support for Vylan continued as his album Humble As The Sun re-entered the charts and climbed to number one in the UK Hip Hop and R&B album category

The support for Vylan continued as his album Humble As The Sun re-entered the charts and climbed to number one in the UK Hip Hop and R&B album category. However, the band have also had to reschedule upcoming dates on their We Won’t Go Quietly Tour in Leeds and Manchester, which the group said was “due to political pressure from the likes of Bridget Phillipson and groups in the Northwest of England” in a statement on Facebook. This backlash was not contained to the UK as the band were also dropped by numerous other performances including RADAR Festival, a show at a German venue, and their US tour after their visas were revoked.

Following a very mixed response from media outlets and members of the public taking to social media, BA’s withdrawal of sponsorship to Theroux’s podcast definitely saw the largest wave of backlash following Vylan’s statements at Glastonbury, bringing the airline, the band, and the podcast host all into the firing line from different ends of the media spectrum.