diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 207989d050..a8c6b23fdd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ## Changelog
 
 ### Version 4.4.3
+* Fixed memory leak on iOS when using `controls` [#1647](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1647)
 * (Android) Update gradle and target SDK [#1629](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1629)
 * Fix iOS stressed mount/unmount crash [#1646](https://github.com/react-native-community/react-native-video/pull/1646)
 
diff --git a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
index 654deb2a81..0a4c57371b 100644
--- a/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
+++ b/ios/Video/RCTVideo.m
@@ -1490,6 +1490,8 @@ - (void)removeFromSuperview
   [_playerViewController.contentOverlayView removeObserver:self forKeyPath:@"frame"];
   [_playerViewController removeObserver:self forKeyPath:readyForDisplayKeyPath];
   [_playerViewController.view removeFromSuperview];
+  _playerViewController.rctDelegate = nil;
+  _playerViewController.player = nil;
   _playerViewController = nil;
   
   [self removePlayerTimeObserver];