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Dozens of celebrities have spoken out in support of Naga Munchetty after the BBC ruled she had breached guidelines by criticising Donald Trump for perceived “racism”.
Lenny Henry, Greg James and Jeremy Corbyn are among the high profile figures to stand in solidarity with the BBC Breakfast his after the corporation’s complaints unit issued her with a formal rebuke.
The Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) said Ms Munchetty had shown “bias” by condemning the US president’s suggestion that female Democrats should “go back” to their own countries.
In a July 17 broadcast, she said: “Every time I have been told, as a woman of colour, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism,” adding: “I’m not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean.”
The ECU’s decision was met by a fierce backlash on social media, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn branding it “astonishing”.
BBC presenters and journalists have joined him in challenging the ruling, with Radio One DJ Greg James saying it made him “uneasy”.
Fellow radio star Trevor Nelson added that unless “you’ve experienced [racism], it’s hard to understand”.
Channel 4 News host Krishnan Guru-Murthy said the finding was “perplexing” given what “older white men have got away with saying on the BBC and Twitter day after day”.
Sanjeev Bhaskar, the actor who created British-Asian comedy series Goodness Gracious Me, said Mr Trump’s remarks were clearly racist and Munchetty had given her “honest opinion” in a reasonable way.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted: “What @BBCNaga described is something most people of colour in the UK have experienced – being told to go back to where we came from.
“Educating viewers on racist language is something she should be applauded for, not censured.”
Fellow Labour MP also joined in the debate, tweeting: “I can’t repeat enough, the BBC have got this atrociously wrong. Failing to call Trump’s ‘go home’ comments racist is inaccurate reporting. No wonder staff are furious.
“@BBCNews reverse this decision.”
A group of around 150 high profile figures have put their anger into action, demanding that the BBC reverse its decision in a letter to the corporation.
The signatories are understood to include comedian Lenny Henry and former Channel 5 News presenter Marverine Cole.
She tweeted about her contribution to the formal complaint, writing: “Together we stand.
“I signed this letter. Racism should be called out. It’s ridiculous when someone calling out racism is reprimanded.’
The BBC has addressed the criticism, by expanding on its verdict.
The ECU said in a statement: “The BBC’s editorial guidelines do require due impartiality, but the Editorial Complaints Unit’s ruling is clear that Naga Munchetty was perfectly entitled to give a personal response to the phrase ‘go back to your own country’.
“She understandably feels strongly on this issue, and there was nothing wrong with her talking about her own experiences of racism.
“However, our editorial guidelines do not allow for journalists to then give their opinions about the individual making the remarks or their motives for doing so – in this case President Trump.
“It was for this reason that the complaint was partially upheld. Those judgements are for the audience to make.”
The BBC’s editorial policy chief appeared on Radio Four’s Today programme on Friday morning to further clarify the ECU’s decision.
Today’s official Twitter page summed up the interview, saying Mr Jordan insisted Munchetty was “absolutely right right to call out Mr Trump’s go back home comments as racist”, but was “wrong to comment on his motives”.
Mr Guru-Murthly swifly waded back into the discussion, tweeting in response: “So viewers should not be able to tell that BBC presenters think racism is wrong.
“It is a matter of ‘opinion’. This is the issue.”
Munchetty has not yet commented on the fall-out.
