BBC’s complaints unit has ruled that anchor Naga Munchetty breached BBC guidelines after she criticised US President Donald Trump for perceived racism.
The Indian origin BBC presenter in July took issue with comments that Trump made after he told opponents to “go back” to the “places from which they came.”
According to BBC, although the Breakfast host was entitled to her own opinions and views, she had gone “beyond what the guidelines allow for.” It said that any action that would be taken as a result of the finding would be published later. Munchetty, while speaking on BBC Breakfast on July 17 after Trump’s online remarks, 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.”
BBC reported that a spokesperson said that the corporation’s Executive Complaints Unit [ECU] had ruled that “While Ms Munchetty was entitled to give a personal response to the phrase ‘go back to your own country’ as it was rooted in her own experience, overall her comments went beyond what the guidelines allow for.”
“Now I’m not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean.” Munchetty said that she felt “absolutely furious” and many people in the UK might as well feel the same way.
“I can imagine lots of people in this country will be feeling absolutely furious that a man in that position feels it’s okay to skirt the lines with using language like that,” she told co-presenter Dan Walker.
Following her comments, Trump posted several messages making references to the Democrat politicians Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.
So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2019
“Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came,” he wrote on Twitter on July 14. At the ECU’s ruling, certain BBC journalists tweeted their disapproval.
Presenter Carrie Gracie said the action against Naga had caused “unease” among journalists from BBC “for whom ‘go back’ equals racist”.
#nagamunchetty Unease among #BBC journalists for whom ‘go back’ = racist. If power trumps or bends meaning then no point in journalism, just print propaganda. There is no #BBC journalism worth the name without #BBC values. Accountability is one. Explain @BBCNaga reprimand please.
— Carrie Gracie (@BBCCarrie) September 25, 2019
When she made the comment in July, Munchetty was appreciated online for her “off-script” moment.
This was a powerful off-script moment from the always brilliant @BBCNaga https://t.co/20XQKCjS8k
— Marina Hyde (@MarinaHyde) July 17, 2019
According to the ECU, Munchetty saying Trump’s comments were “embedded in racism” went beyond whatever BBC allows. It upheld a complaint against her comments.
According to the BBC’s spokeswoman, the ECU’s decision and the summary of the complaint would be published on the online complaints pages of BBC. It would “include a note of any action taken as a result of the finding.”
The ECU’s decision was labelled as “appalling” by Labour MP David Lammy. Journalist Kevin Maguire said it was a “bad, bad day”.
Bad, bad day when the BBC rules that telling the truth is a breach of impartiality guidelines https://t.co/cf6Dj7hpQS
— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) September 25, 2019
The Logical Indian Take
BBC’s decision to take action against Anchor Naga Munchetty for calling out racism she herself faced is shocking. If calling out people in power who encourage racism is a breach of BBC guidlines, then it is high time for the BBC to review its guidlines.
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