diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/GestureOverlay.tsx b/components/video-player/controls/GestureOverlay.tsx
index 26a2e26f..b01966fe 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/GestureOverlay.tsx
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/GestureOverlay.tsx
@@ -247,29 +247,30 @@ export const GestureOverlay = ({
       screenHeight,
     });
 
-  // If controls are visible, act like the old tap overlay
-  if (showControls) {
-    return (
-      <Pressable
-        onPress={onToggleControls}
-        style={{
-          position: "absolute",
-          width: screenWidth,
-          height: screenHeight,
-          backgroundColor: "black",
-          left: 0,
-          right: 0,
-          top: 0,
-          bottom: 0,
-          opacity: 0.75,
-        }}
-      />
-    );
-  }
+  // Background overlay when controls are visible
+  const controlsOverlay = showControls && (
+    <Pressable
+      onPress={onToggleControls}
+      style={{
+        position: "absolute",
+        width: screenWidth,
+        height: screenHeight,
+        backgroundColor: "black",
+        left: 0,
+        right: 0,
+        top: 0,
+        bottom: 0,
+        opacity: 0.75,
+      }}
+    />
+  );
 
   return (
     <>
-      {/* Gesture detection area */}
+      {/* Controls overlay when visible */}
+      {controlsOverlay}
+
+      {/* Gesture detection area - always present */}
       <Pressable
         onTouchStart={handleTouchStart}
         onTouchMove={handleTouchMove}
diff --git a/components/video-player/controls/hooks/useGestureDetection.ts b/components/video-player/controls/hooks/useGestureDetection.ts
index f94243ed..37585860 100644
--- a/components/video-player/controls/hooks/useGestureDetection.ts
+++ b/components/video-player/controls/hooks/useGestureDetection.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import type { GestureResponderEvent } from "react-native";
 export interface SwipeGestureOptions {
   minDistance?: number;
   maxDuration?: number;
-  onSwipeLeft?: () => void;
-  onSwipeRight?: () => void;
   onDoubleTapLeft?: () => void;
   onDoubleTapRight?: () => void;
   onVerticalDragStart?: (side: "left" | "right", initialY: number) => void;
@@ -23,8 +21,6 @@ export interface SwipeGestureOptions {
 export const useGestureDetection = ({
   minDistance = 50,
   maxDuration = 800,
-  onSwipeLeft,
-  onSwipeRight,
   onDoubleTapLeft,
   onDoubleTapRight,
   onVerticalDragStart,
@@ -207,7 +203,7 @@ export const useGestureDetection = ({
           lastTapTime.current = 0;
           lastTapPosition.current = { x: 0, y: 0 };
         } else {
-          // It's a single tap
+          // It's a single tap - execute immediately
           onTap?.();
           lastTapTime.current = currentTime;
           lastTapPosition.current = { x: tapX, y: tapY };