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The BBC’s director general Lord Hall has reversed a decision to partially uphold
He told staff that Munchetty’s words were not “sufficient to merit a partial uphold” of the complaint against her.
She had been found to have breached the BBC’s guidelines over comments she made about a tweet from Donald Trump about four female politicians of color.
Lord Hall said he “personally” reviewed the decision of the complaints unit.
A complaint against Munchetty was partially upheld after the BBC found she had criticized the US President’s motivesin sayingfour female Democrats should “go back” to “places from which they came”.
At the time, the BBC said Munchetty had gone “beyond what the guidelines allow for”.
On Monday, the director general reiterated that “racism is racism and the BBC is not impartial on the topic”.
The reversal of the decision comes afterdozens of black actors and broadcasters called on the BBCto overturn its decision.
The saga began when Mr Trump posted several messages that made references to the Democrat politicians Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib.
“Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and c rime infested places from which they came, “hewrote on Twitteron 06
The comments were discussed on BBC Breakfast on 17 July, where Munchetty said: “Every time I have been told, as a woman of color, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism.
“Now I’m not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean.”
Her co- presenter Dan Walker said that “it feels like a thought-out strategy to strengthen his position” to which she replied: “And it is not enough to do it just to get attention. He’s in a responsible position. Anyway I’m not here to give my opinion. “
A viewer complained to the BBC about both presenters, however they focused only on Munchetty at the third and final stage of the complaints process.
The complaint was partially upheld by the corporations executive complaints unit, on the grounds that the BBC’s editorial guidelines “do not allow for journalists to … give their opinions about the individual making the remarks or their motives for doing so – in this case President Trump “.
What did the director general say to staff?
In an email to BBC staff on Monday, Lord Hall said: “Many of you asked that I personally review the decision of the ECU. I have done so. I have looked carefully at all the arguments that have been made and assessed all of the materials.
“I have also examined the complaint itself. It was only ever in a limited way that there was found to be a breach of our guidelines. These are often finely balanced and difficult judgements.
“But, in this instance, I don’t think Naga’s words were sufficient to merit a partial uphold of the complaint around the comments she made.
“There was never any sanction against Naga and I hope this step makes that absolutely clear. “
He added that she was an” exceptional “journalist and that he has asked editorial and leadership teams” to discuss how we manage live exchanges on air around these topics in the future. “
Support for Munchetty
Munchetty received widespread support. Sir Lenny Henry and Gina Yashere were among 44 stars who asked the BBC to revisit the ruling inan open letter
Writer Afua Hirsch, who helped organize the letter , said: “The ruling legitimises racist opinion.”
At the time the BBC said the letter was “based on a misunderstanding of the editorial guidelines and how they apply”.
Some BBC journalists also tweeted their disapproval at the ECU’s ruling.
Presenter Carrie Gracie, who resigned her post as China Editor ina dispute over equal pay, said it had caused “unease” among BBC journalists “for whom ‘go back’=racist” and called on the ECU to explain its decision.
Meanwhile, #IStandWithNaga trended on Twitter, and she had supportive messages from political figures including Chancellor of the Exchequer Sa jid Javid and Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn.
What did Naga Munchetty say in the first place?
Walker: It’s the president. That was the most telling quote for me last night. I can’t remember who said it, but she said, ‘I’ve been told to go home many times to go back to where I’ve come from many times in my life, but never by the man sitting in the Oval Office ‘.
Munchetty: Every time I have been told, as a woman of color, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism. Now I’m not accusing anyone of anything here but you know what certain phrases mean.
Walker: Do you hear that quite regularly?
Munchetty: Yes. Not ****, but I’ve been told it.
Walker: You’re sitting here not giving an opinion, but how do you feel as someone when you’ve been told that before, and when you hear that from him?
Munchetty: Furious. Absolutely furious. And I imagine a lot of people in this country will be feeling absolutely furious that a man in that position feels it’s OK to skirt the lines with using language like that.
Walker : Do you feel his use of that then legitimises other people to use this…
Munchetty: Yes.
Walker: As our guest was saying there, it feels like a thought-out strategy to strengthen his position.
Munchetty: And it is not enough to do it just to get attention. He’s in a responsible position. Anyway I’m not here to give my opinion.
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