diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f888c691..f9ed1c5e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 ### next
 * Replaced RCTBubblingEventBlock events by RCTDirectEventBlock to avoid event name collisions [#1625](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1625)
 * Added `onPlaybackRateChange` to README [#1578](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1578)
+* Fix background audio stopping on iOS when using `controls` [#1614](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1614)
 
 ### Version 4.4.1
 * Fix tvOS picture-in-picture compilation regression [#1518](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1518)
diff --git a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
index dcadee85..271433b3 100644
--- a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
+++ b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ static int const RCTVideoUnset = -1;
   if (_playInBackground) {
     // Needed to play sound in background. See https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/qa/qa1668/_index.html
     [_playerLayer setPlayer:nil];
+    [_playerViewController setPlayer:nil];
   }
 }
 
@@ -231,6 +232,7 @@ static int const RCTVideoUnset = -1;
   [self applyModifiers];
   if (_playInBackground) {
     [_playerLayer setPlayer:_player];
+    [_playerViewController setPlayer:_player];
   }
 }