Staff tensions at BBC intensify after editorial dispute
The BBC is grappling with a severe internal crisis as reports suggest its staff are in a ‘civil war’ against management over the handling of a controversial Trump documentary. This dispute has led to the resignation of top executives, including Director General Tim Davie and CEO Deborah Turness, following revelations that two clips from Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech at the U.S. Capitol were spliced together despite being nearly an hour apart. The BBC’s admission of the editing error has sparked outrage, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening a $1 billion lawsuit unless the broadcaster issues a full retraction by Friday.
The controversy has deepened when BBC board chair Samir Shah acknowledged in a letter to Parliament that the editing process ‘gave the impression of a direct call for violent action.’ This admission has intensified the conflict within the organization, with some staff, described as ‘woke pro-trans,’ rebelling against the board. The Daily Mail reported that the scandal has led to an outright ‘civil war’ at the BBC, with these staff members likely opposing the board’s handling of the issue.
The situation is further complicated by the BBC’s recent controversies, including the censure of veteran presenter Martine Croxall for suggesting a change in terminology during a live broadcast. Additionally, the broadcaster was found to have violated journalistic standards by failing to disclose that a segment of a Gaza documentary was narrated by the son of a Hamas official. These incidents have fueled criticism that the BBC has taken a ‘woke’ direction, with some insiders claiming the organization has been ‘captured by a minority ideology’ and producing ‘one-sided’ reporting on issues such as transgender rights and the Gaza conflict.