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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Naga Munchetty

119 replies

theendoftheendoftheend · 27/09/2019 12:23

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49850738

Having read this I am struggling to understand why Naga is in trouble for answering the questions Dan asked her and why he hasn't been equally addressed for this comment;

Walker: Do you feel his use of that then legitimises other people to use this…

Munchetty: Yes. Yes.

Walker: It feels like a thought-out strategy to strengthen his position.

How have they come to the decision her comments were wrong but this one by Dan was fine? Have I missed something? Hmm

OP posts:
paap1975 · 27/09/2019 12:25

I think it's an utter disgrace that she has been reprimanded. If we reprimand journalists for telling the truth, then we are setting off down a very dangerous path!

Original poster
theendoftheendoftheend · 27/09/2019 12:26

I agree, she shouldn't have been reprimanded but as they have seen fit to do so I don't understand their reasoning for not also reprimanding Dan Walker. Unless they have and I just can't find the report on that.

OP posts:
MrsBungle · 27/09/2019 12:27

I totally agree. I hadn’t heard exactly what was said until Jeremy Vine just played it. She was completely “led” in to what she said (which I don’t think there was anything wrong with anyway) by Dan. Why isn’t he being complained about?!

PotteringAlong · 27/09/2019 12:28

If you have I have too...

I don’t get it either.

ghostyslovesheets · 27/09/2019 12:30

why do the BBC have to be neutral about racism? Does the same apply to homophobia?

She answered a question - it's a disgrace she's been called on it

Sunshine93 · 27/09/2019 12:32

It's disgusting. I think I might have to boycott the BBC now what with Kuennsberg tweeting about the labour activist and now this. I've always wondered if they are a little bit right wing but hoped that was just a perception.

LisaRoundTheMulberryBush · 27/09/2019 12:34

why do the BBC have to be neutral about racism? Does the same apply to homophobia?

Exactly.

Smellbellina · 27/09/2019 12:35

I don’t get how the rule applies to Naga but not Dan, as pp said he led the whole conversation and made his own direct comments about Trump as highlighted above!

CustardySergeant · 27/09/2019 12:40

It's outrageous that anyone complained about what she said, let alone that the BBC upheld the complaint and I'm baffled by their reasoning. A truly appalling decision in my opinion.

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/09/2019 12:44

I emailed the BBC yesterday to let them know I thought their decision was wrong. Even if he hadn't asked the question there is no neutral position on racism that should be maintained.

goldface · 27/09/2019 12:45

Exactly my thoughts. It was a conversation with questions led by Dan, so surely the BBC would treat them both as not complying with their policies?
For the record I think it's utter bullshit to uphold the complaint at all.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 27/09/2019 12:46

I think that the way she has been treated is appalling. The BBC were quick to defend Laura Kussenburg and Fiona Bruce when their impartiality was called into question, but a woman of colour speaking about her own experience of racism deserves a "reprimand". Meanwhile the male co-presenter who was the one asking her the questions in the first place isn't even on their radar apparently. It's such blatant discrimination I don't understand how they can get away with it.

And that's leaving aside the very serious issue of racism being seen by the BBC as something that one can or should reasonably be "neutral" about. How is that acceptable? To tell a person of colour to "go back to where they came from" is undeniably, unequivocally racist and racism is undeniably, unequivocally wrong so nothing that Naga said was her opinion, she was merely stating facts. I find the BBC's stance on this deeply disturbing, especially at a time when our country is being led by a man who publicly described black people as "pickaninnies with watermelon smiles" and Muslim women as "letterboxes" and thinks it's all oh so amusing. The creeping normalisation of racism in this country is no laughing matter.

Kublai · 27/09/2019 12:46

The way she has been treated is disgusting. I feel very sorry for her.

Sunshine93 · 27/09/2019 12:51

The creeping normalisation of racism in this country is no laughing matter

Agree with this. It's terrifying

Smellbellina · 27/09/2019 12:54

It’s the lack of commentary on Dan’s comments and why he hasn’t also been ‘reprimanded’ too, the media don’t seem to have picked up to that aspect, how? Why??!

AnyFucker · 27/09/2019 12:56

Same old, same old

Uppity black woman gets silenced. Smug man stays whiiiite as snow.

MinisterforCheekyFuckery · 27/09/2019 13:01

Smellbellina because white men can say whatever they want without being held to account for it. Hence why the US and UK are both now led by confirmed racists. We live in a world where the President of the US admits to habitually sexually assaulting women on the radio and literally nothing happens but woman of colour has the audacity to talk about her own experience of racism on TV and she's "reprimanded". It's so fucking depressing.

derxa · 27/09/2019 13:03

It is disgraceful. I can't stand the BBC breakfast programme because it is so dull and bland. I now realise why.

derxa · 27/09/2019 13:04

And that Dan is a self important twit.

AnyFucker · 27/09/2019 13:07

Has Dan spoken out in defence of Naga ?

Smellbellina · 27/09/2019 13:09

I haven’t seen anything reporting Dan supporting Naga but to be honest I wouldn’t be suprised if he hasn’t been silenced by the BBC.

Tonnerre · 27/09/2019 13:11

They said this morning that they hadn't said anything about Walker because no-one had complained about him. So get the complaints in if you want equality, folks. I wouldn't, personally, because I have no issue with either Walker or Munchetty discussing this.

So far as I remember, they also said that they had no issue with her condemning racism and racist language, but when she expressed an opinion about a specific public figure she breached their rules on neutrality. They really need to spell out very carefully and clearly where they're drawing the line.

Tonnerre · 27/09/2019 13:13

It’s the lack of commentary on Dan’s comments and why he hasn’t also been ‘reprimanded’ too, the media don’t seem to have picked up to that aspect, how? Why??!

It was specifically picked up on Radio 4 this morning.

NKFell · 27/09/2019 13:26

It's an absolute outrage and a dangerous slippery slope.

PotteringAlong · 27/09/2019 13:27

Well, I think the complaint is completely ridiculous, but if she’s been reprimanded then I’m happy to complain about Dan too.

www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/