Prevent 2 videos from playing at once

Im building a video feed that scrolls and acts similar to TikTok or equivalent. Running into an issue where the video doesnt stop playing after you scroll to the next video, but stops only after the video after that. so it takes 2 scrolls for the video to stop playing, meanwhile every video starts playing when its in view normally, but because it takes 2 scrolls for the first video to stop, there are always 2 videos playing at the same time.

Is there a function i can add so that only one video plays at a time? I tried the activeIndex with the onappear / on disappear but that didnt change anything other than all the videos following the first video wouldnt play.

Here is some of the code I have, I need some dire help here.

Swift Pros only - thank you in advance!

import AVKit
import MapKit

struct LiveEventCard: View {
    let event: CustomEvent
    var isActive: Bool // Determines if the video should play
    let onCommentButtonTapped: () -> Void

    @EnvironmentObject var watchlistManager: WatchlistManager
    @EnvironmentObject var liveNowManager: LiveNowManager

    @State private var player: AVPlayer?

    var body: some View {
        GeometryReader { geometry in
            ZStack {
                // Video Player
                if let videoURL = event.fullVideoPath(),
                   FileManager.default.fileExists(atPath: videoURL.path) {
                    VideoPlayer(player: player)
                        .frame(width: geometry.size.width, height: geometry.size.height)
                        .onAppear {
                            initializePlayer(with: videoURL)
                            handlePlayback()
                        }
                        .onChange(of: isActive) { _ in
                            handlePlayback()
                        }
                        .onDisappear {
                            cleanupPlayer()
                        }
                } else {
                    // Error Placeholder
                    Rectangle()
                        .fill(Color.black.opacity(0.8))
                        .frame(width: geometry.size.width, height: geometry.size.height)
                        .overlay(
                            Text("Unable to play video")
                                .foregroundColor(.white)
                                .font(.headline)
                        )
                }

                // Gradient Overlay at the Top
                VStack {
                    LinearGradient(
                        gradient: Gradient(colors: [.black.opacity(0.7), .clear]),
                        startPoint: .top,
                        endPoint: .bottom
                    )
                    .frame(height: 150)
                    Spacer()
                }
                .edgesIgnoringSafeArea(.top)

                // Event Title + Subtitle
                VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
                    Text(event.name ?? "Unknown Event")
                        .font(.title2)
                        .fontWeight(.bold)
                        .foregroundColor(.white)

                    Text("\(event.genre ?? "Genre") • \(event.time ?? "Time")")
                        .font(.subheadline)
                        .foregroundColor(.white.opacity(0.8))
                }
                .padding([.top, .leading], 16)
                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity, alignment: .topLeading)

                // Buttons at Bottom-Right
                VStack(spacing: 12) {
                    // Like Button
                    ActionButton(
                        systemName: liveNowManager.likedEvents.contains(event.id ?? "") ? "heart.fill" : "heart",
                        action: { toggleLike() },
                        accessibilityLabel: liveNowManager.likedEvents.contains(event.id ?? "") ? "Unlike" : "Like"
                    )
                    Text("\(liveNowManager.likesCount[event.id ?? ""] ?? 0)")
                        .font(.caption)
                        .foregroundColor(.white)

                    // Watchlist Button
                    ActionButton(
                        systemName: watchlistManager.isInWatchlist(event: event) ? "checkmark.circle" : "plus.circle",
                        action: { toggleWatchlist(for: event) },
                        accessibilityLabel: watchlistManager.isInWatchlist(event: event) ? "Remove from Watchlist" : "Add to Watchlist"
                    )

                    // Profile Button
                    ActionButton(
                        systemName: "person.crop.circle",
                        action: { /* Profile Action */ },
                        accessibilityLabel: "Profile"
                    )

                    // Comments Button
                    ActionButton(
                        systemName: "bubble.right",
                        action: { onCommentButtonTapped() },
                        accessibilityLabel: "Comments"
                    )

                    // Location Button
                    ActionButton(
                        systemName: "mappin.and.ellipse",
                        action: { /* Map Action */ },
                        accessibilityLabel: "Location"
                    )
                }
                .padding(.trailing, 16)
                .padding(.bottom, 75)
                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, maxHeight: .infinity, alignment: .bottomTrailing)
            }
        }
    }

    // MARK: - Player Management

    private func initializePlayer(with videoURL: URL) {
        if player == nil {
            player = AVPlayer(url: videoURL)
        }
    }

    private func handlePlayback() {
        guard let player = player else { return }
        if isActive {
            player.play()
        } else {
            player.pause()
        }
    }

    private func cleanupPlayer() {
        player?.pause()
        player = nil
    }

    // MARK: - Actions
    private func toggleWatchlist(for event: CustomEvent) {
        if watchlistManager.isInWatchlist(event: event) {
            watchlistManager.removeFromWatchlist(event: event)
        } else {
            watchlistManager.addToWatchlist(event: event)
        }
    }

    private func toggleLike() {
        liveNowManager.toggleLike(for: event.id ?? "")
    }
}