Fallen Apologizes to Vlad Pirat Over Misunderstood Sponsorship Cut, Blames Internal Miscommunication

What followed was a lot of support for Vlad, sharp criticism toward the brand, and plenty of people demanding answers.

Initially, Vlad shared that he had been offered a spot on the Fallen EU team in early 2024 and later signed an official contract in 2025.

But just as things were getting started, he received an email saying the company was pulling out because his content was “too political.” Vlad, clearly frustrated, argued that what he was sharing wasn’t politics—it was the real-life consequences of war: friends on the frontlines, missiles in the sky, cities turned to rubble.

His post gained traction fast, with skaters and fans chiming in on social media. Many were stunned that a brand like Fallen would make such a call.

That backlash prompted a public response from Fallen Footwear themselves. Commenting directly on Vlad’s post, the company issued an apology, placing the blame on their European team manager.

"Hey Vlad, I’m so sorry you dealt with this from our Euro team manager. We were never aware of this email being sent out and he misinterpreted why we have been making cuts," they wrote. The brand explained that the sponsorship cut was actually tied to political issues in their own country and recent tariffs, not Vlad’s personal posts.

They added that they were “very sorry this was handled so poorly” and that they’re working behind the scenes to prevent something like this from happening again. They also mentioned reaching out to Vlad privately to get more context.

While Fallen’s comment seems aimed at damage control, some are still skeptical.

Vlad’s original post pointed out what he saw as hypocrisy, questioning how the brand could claim to avoid politics while having riders participate in events funded by the Russian government.

Regardless of how things play out, the situation has put Fallen in the spotlight and not in the way brands usually like.