Filmmaker Steve McQueen has revealed that he was about to boycott the BBC if the network had persisted in refusing to apologize for a reporter’s use of the N-word over the summer. During an interview with the Radio Times (via Deadline), McQueen was outraged when the BBC News channel took 12 days to apologize when its social affairs correspondent, Fiona Lamdin, used the epithet in reporting on a racially motivated hate attack that took place in July. Lamdin works for BBC news service Points West.
Following the use of the slur, the BBC stood by the remark, stating, “This was a story about a shocking unprovoked attack on a young black man. His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public… A warning was given before this was reported. We are no longer running this version of...
Following the use of the slur, the BBC stood by the remark, stating, “This was a story about a shocking unprovoked attack on a young black man. His family told the BBC about the racist language used by the attackers and wanted to see the full facts made public… A warning was given before this was reported. We are no longer running this version of...
- 12/5/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Small Axe and 12 Years A Slave director Sir Steve McQueen has revealed that he was prepared to boycott the BBC if it had refused to apologize after a journalist used the N-word.
Speaking to the Radio Times, McQueen said he was incredulous after the BBC took 12 days to say sorry after social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin used the offensive word in describing a race hate attack during a report in July.
The BBC’s decision to stand by the remark prompted 18,656 complaints and the resignation of BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman. Former BBC director general Tony Hall did eventually step in, telling staff: “The BBC now accepts that we should have taken a different approach at the time of broadcast and we are very sorry for that.”
Reflecting on the matter, McQueen said: “That they didn’t react on the N-word is ridiculous… I can’t tell you what I did.
Speaking to the Radio Times, McQueen said he was incredulous after the BBC took 12 days to say sorry after social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin used the offensive word in describing a race hate attack during a report in July.
The BBC’s decision to stand by the remark prompted 18,656 complaints and the resignation of BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman. Former BBC director general Tony Hall did eventually step in, telling staff: “The BBC now accepts that we should have taken a different approach at the time of broadcast and we are very sorry for that.”
Reflecting on the matter, McQueen said: “That they didn’t react on the N-word is ridiculous… I can’t tell you what I did.
- 12/3/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC director general Tony Hall has apologized 12 days after a reporter used the N-word on-air, prompting outrage from both viewers and the British broadcaster’s employees.
Up until Sunday, the BBC had staunchly defended social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin’s use of the word in describing a race hate attack, saying it had been signed off by senior editors and was justified by its context.
But after receiving 18,656 complaints, staff voicing their concerns on social media, and the resignation of BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman over the issue, Hall has intervened.
In an email to staff today, the director general said: “It should be clear that the BBC’s intention was to highlight an alleged racist attack. This is important journalism which the BBC should be reporting on and we will continue to do so.
“Yet despite these good intentions, I recognise that we have ended up creating distress amongst many people.
Up until Sunday, the BBC had staunchly defended social affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin’s use of the word in describing a race hate attack, saying it had been signed off by senior editors and was justified by its context.
But after receiving 18,656 complaints, staff voicing their concerns on social media, and the resignation of BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter Sideman over the issue, Hall has intervened.
In an email to staff today, the director general said: “It should be clear that the BBC’s intention was to highlight an alleged racist attack. This is important journalism which the BBC should be reporting on and we will continue to do so.
“Yet despite these good intentions, I recognise that we have ended up creating distress amongst many people.
- 8/9/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
BBC Radio host DJ Sideman announced that he’s quitting the team following a reporter’s use of the n-word in a news segment. The BBC Radio 1xtra host, whose real name is David Whitely, announced his departure from BBC in an Instagram post.
“I just don’t feel comfortable being aligned with the organization,” Whitely, who is Black, said in the social media video posted Saturday. “I can’t make sense of it no matter how much I think about it. So I think it’s time that I’ve left.”
Whitely made his announcement after BBC reporter Fiona Lamdin used the racial slur to recount a violent crime. During her description of the attack, in which a healthcare worker was hit by a car, Lamdin said, “Just to warn you, you’re about to hear highly offensive language because as the men ran away they hurled racial abuse,...
“I just don’t feel comfortable being aligned with the organization,” Whitely, who is Black, said in the social media video posted Saturday. “I can’t make sense of it no matter how much I think about it. So I think it’s time that I’ve left.”
Whitely made his announcement after BBC reporter Fiona Lamdin used the racial slur to recount a violent crime. During her description of the attack, in which a healthcare worker was hit by a car, Lamdin said, “Just to warn you, you’re about to hear highly offensive language because as the men ran away they hurled racial abuse,...
- 8/8/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
A BBC reporter used the N-word without censorship during a report on an unprovoked racist attack on a British healthcare worker.
Fiona Lamdin, a social affairs correspondent, was reporting on the incident in the city of Bristol for regional BBC news service Points West on Tuesday evening.
During her description of the attack, in which the healthcare worker was hit by a car, she said: “Just to warn you, you’re about to hear highly offensive language because as the men ran away they hurled racial abuse, calling him a ‘n*****.'”
Her report was broadcast nationally on the BBC News channel on Wednesday morning. Twitter user @laurellah heard Lamdin use the racial slur and tweeted a clip, which is currently going viral. Other users noted that they had complained to the BBC after seeing @laurellah’s tweet.
In a statement, the BBC provided some context for the report, but...
Fiona Lamdin, a social affairs correspondent, was reporting on the incident in the city of Bristol for regional BBC news service Points West on Tuesday evening.
During her description of the attack, in which the healthcare worker was hit by a car, she said: “Just to warn you, you’re about to hear highly offensive language because as the men ran away they hurled racial abuse, calling him a ‘n*****.'”
Her report was broadcast nationally on the BBC News channel on Wednesday morning. Twitter user @laurellah heard Lamdin use the racial slur and tweeted a clip, which is currently going viral. Other users noted that they had complained to the BBC after seeing @laurellah’s tweet.
In a statement, the BBC provided some context for the report, but...
- 7/29/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
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