BBC News controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile3 entries
2021
BBC News apologizes for Phil Spector obituary headline
Company response
BBC News apologized for the headline on its breaking-news story about the death of Phil Spector, stating that it did not meet its editorial standards. The broadcaster said the headline was changed within minutes and that an automatically posted tweet was deleted. The apology concerned the headline itself; BBC News did not provide further details in the statement as summarized.
BBC News said the headline on its breaking-news story about Phil Spector's death did not meet its editorial standards, and apologized for the error. It said the headline was changed within minutes and an automatically posted tweet was deleted.
Company response
Apology — BBC News
We apologize for this error.
Source excerpt
BBC News has apologized for an obituary headline that referred to convicted murderer Phil Spector, the record producer who shot actress Lana Clarkson in 2003, as a “talented but flawed producer.”
“This was changed within minutes, and we also deleted a tweet that had gone out automatically with the original headline. We apologize for this error.”
2021
BBC faces backlash over LGB Alliance coverage
Public backlash
BBC News faced backlash from the LGBT+ community after quoting LGB Alliance in an article about conversion therapy without including LGBT+ groups.
Source excerpt
BBC News is facing backlash from the LGBT+ community after it uncritically quoted the LGB Alliance in an article about conversion therapy.
2020
BBC News apologizes for using LeBron James footage in a Kobe Bryant report
Company response
BBC News apologized after mistakenly using footage of LeBron James in one section of its report about Kobe Bryant’s death. The report prompted disbelief, mockery and outrage from viewers and critics.
Company response
Apology — BBC News
Not long afterward, BBC News editor apologized, with BBC News At Ten editor Paul Royall tweeting out an “oops” and an apology.
Source excerpt
Not long afterward, BBC News editor apologized, with BBC News At Ten editor Paul Royall tweeting out an “oops” and an apology.
In tonight’s coverage of the death of Kobe Bryant on BBC News Ten we mistakenly used pictures of LeBron James in one section of the report,” Royall wrote. “We apologise for this human error which fell below our usual standards on the programme.
But that came too late to stem the disbelief, mockery and outrage that ensued.