VLC can no longer be controlled by Android media controls

VLC for Android no longer responds to Android system media control commands like play, stop, pause and so forth like it used to be able to.

I used to be able to control and automate VLC this way via automation software "Automate" to close the app via the Stop command without requiring root on the device to kill the app instead.

Expected behavior

Be able to control VLC via Android media control commands. Stop would stop video playback and close the app.

Actual behavior

VLC no longer responds to it like it used to. Sending stop does nothing.

Steps to reproduce

1. Grab software like Automate.
2. Pick a start app block and configure VLC to start playback of a video file.
3. Follow it up with a delay block and set it to 10 seconds (or longer if slow device).
4. Follow it up with an Audio Player Control block and configure it to send a Stop command to VLC (see screenshot).

This screenshot is taken from an Automate flow that used to work and now broke. I debugged it and figured out the reason it broke was due to VLC no longer closing because it no longer responds to the Stop command whereas it did before.

Screenshot / video

Context

App version

3.5.3 (Play Store)

Android version

Android 4.4.4

Device model

Minix NEO Z64-A

App mode

TV (not sure, the device is connected to a TV via HDMI so I assume this)