diff --git a/packages/react-native/scripts/cocoapods/utils.rb b/packages/react-native/scripts/cocoapods/utils.rb
index 4582d541506be5..87f8d1966306b5 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/scripts/cocoapods/utils.rb
+++ b/packages/react-native/scripts/cocoapods/utils.rb
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ def self.warn_if_not_on_arm64
         end
     end
 
+    # deprecated. These checks are duplicated in the react_native_pods function
+    # and we don't really need them. Removing this function will make it easy to
+    # move forward.
     def self.get_default_flags
         flags = {
             :fabric_enabled => false,
diff --git a/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb b/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb
index 0d7e0bfcd2d092..552fccdcf494c4 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb
+++ b/packages/react-native/scripts/react_native_pods.rb
@@ -217,7 +217,10 @@ def install_modules_dependencies(spec, new_arch_enabled: ENV['RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABL
 end
 
 # It returns the default flags.
+# deprecated.
 def get_default_flags()
+  warn 'get_default_flags is deprecated. Please remove the keys from the `use_react_native!` function'
+  warn 'if you are using the default already and pass the value you need in case you don\'t want the default'
   return ReactNativePodsUtils.get_default_flags()
 end
 
diff --git a/packages/react-native/template/ios/Podfile b/packages/react-native/template/ios/Podfile
index 9e19c2319bd1bc..8a7176582a8408 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/template/ios/Podfile
+++ b/packages/react-native/template/ios/Podfile
@@ -28,14 +28,8 @@ end
 target 'HelloWorld' do
   config = use_native_modules!
 
-  # Flags change depending on the env values.
-  flags = get_default_flags()
-
   use_react_native!(
     :path => config[:reactNativePath],
-    # Hermes is now enabled by default. Disable by setting this flag to false.
-    :hermes_enabled => flags[:hermes_enabled],
-    :fabric_enabled => flags[:fabric_enabled],
     # Enables Flipper.
     #
     # Note that if you have use_frameworks! enabled, Flipper will not work and