diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx
index 24802d1882..f268bf8db8 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbed.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import React, {useCallback, useState} from 'react'
-import {View} from 'react-native'
+import {ActivityIndicator, View} from 'react-native'
 import {ImageBackground} from 'expo-image'
 import {AppBskyEmbedVideo} from '@atproto/api'
 import {msg, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import {VideoEmbedInnerNative} from '#/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner
 import {atoms as a} from '#/alf'
 import {Button} from '#/components/Button'
 import {useThrottledValue} from '#/components/hooks/useThrottledValue'
-import {Loader} from '#/components/Loader'
 import {PlayButtonIcon} from '#/components/video/PlayButtonIcon'
 import {ErrorBoundary} from '../ErrorBoundary'
 import * as VideoFallback from './VideoEmbedInner/VideoFallback'
@@ -89,12 +88,9 @@ function InnerWrapper({embed}: Props) {
         source={{uri: embed.thumbnail}}
         accessibilityIgnoresInvertColors
         style={[
+          a.absolute,
+          a.inset_0,
           {
-            position: 'absolute',
-            top: 0,
-            left: 0,
-            right: 0,
-            bottom: 0,
             backgroundColor: 'transparent', // If you don't add `backgroundColor` to the styles here,
             // the play button won't show up on the first render on android 🥴😮‍💨
             display: showOverlay ? 'flex' : 'none',
@@ -102,27 +98,29 @@ function InnerWrapper({embed}: Props) {
         ]}
         cachePolicy="memory-disk" // Preferring memory cache helps to avoid flicker when re-displaying on android
       >
-        <Button
-          style={[a.flex_1, a.align_center, a.justify_center]}
-          onPress={() => {
-            ref.current?.togglePlayback()
-          }}
-          label={_(msg`Play video`)}
-          color="secondary">
-          {showSpinner ? (
-            <View
-              style={[
-                a.rounded_full,
-                a.p_xs,
-                a.align_center,
-                a.justify_center,
-              ]}>
-              <Loader size="2xl" style={{color: 'white'}} />
-            </View>
-          ) : (
-            <PlayButtonIcon />
-          )}
-        </Button>
+        {showOverlay && (
+          <Button
+            style={[a.flex_1, a.align_center, a.justify_center]}
+            onPress={() => {
+              ref.current?.togglePlayback()
+            }}
+            label={_(msg`Play video`)}
+            color="secondary">
+            {showSpinner ? (
+              <View
+                style={[
+                  a.rounded_full,
+                  a.p_xs,
+                  a.align_center,
+                  a.justify_center,
+                ]}>
+                <ActivityIndicator size="large" color="white" />
+              </View>
+            ) : (
+              <PlayButtonIcon />
+            )}
+          </Button>
+        )}
       </ImageBackground>
     </>
   )
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/TimeIndicator.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/TimeIndicator.tsx
index 66e1df50dc..9b082cd959 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/TimeIndicator.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/TimeIndicator.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import React from 'react'
 import {StyleProp, ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
-import Animated, {FadeInDown, FadeOutDown} from 'react-native-reanimated'
+import {View} from 'react-native'
 
-import {atoms as a, native, useTheme} from '#/alf'
+import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 
 /**
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ export function TimeIndicator({
   const seconds = String(time % 60).padStart(2, '0')
 
   return (
-    <Animated.View
-      entering={native(FadeInDown.duration(300))}
-      exiting={native(FadeOutDown.duration(500))}
+    <View
       pointerEvents="none"
       style={[
         {
@@ -52,6 +50,6 @@ export function TimeIndicator({
         ]}>
         {`${minutes}:${seconds}`}
       </Text>
-    </Animated.View>
+    </View>
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/VideoEmbedInnerNative.tsx b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/VideoEmbedInnerNative.tsx
index 21db54322f..215e4c406f 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/VideoEmbedInnerNative.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/post-embeds/VideoEmbedInner/VideoEmbedInnerNative.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import React, {useRef} from 'react'
 import {Pressable, StyleProp, View, ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
-import Animated, {FadeInDown} from 'react-native-reanimated'
 import {AppBskyEmbedVideo} from '@atproto/api'
 import {BlueskyVideoView} from '@haileyok/bluesky-video'
 import {msg} from '@lingui/macro'
@@ -182,8 +181,7 @@ function ControlButton({
   style?: StyleProp<ViewStyle>
 }) {
   return (
-    <Animated.View
-      entering={FadeInDown.duration(300)}
+    <View
       style={[
         a.absolute,
         a.rounded_full,
@@ -207,6 +205,6 @@ function ControlButton({
         hitSlop={HITSLOP_30}>
         {children}
       </Pressable>
-    </Animated.View>
+    </View>
   )
 }