BBC backtracked on "all women finalists"

[PronounsBaby]

Apologies if already been discussed but I was surprised to see that BBC women's hour have issued an apology for saying the finalist on Brain of Britain were all women when one is a transwoman.

twitter.com/BBCWomansHour/status/1595003565646532615?t=xKTabOdwDdh8b095rQKm4Q&s=09

You're less cynical than me I think they were seeing what they could get away with, and have given this half-arsed apology only after being called out.
But, bottom line, it is at least out in the open now.

Ah, maybe. Or maybe I’m even more cynical and was imagining them posting ‘it IS all women! Trans women are women! Everyone is a woman!’ So maybe it was a best of the worst to me 😂

I agree, at least it’s been said. Maybe the intention (sorry, mistaken, admitting that a trans woman means it isn’t all women) matters less than the fact that it will stir people’s minds?

The DM does this all the time. Say what you want for the effect you want, knowing all your readers will see it. Only a small fraction will know you're lying your little socks off and complain, and you then stuff up an apology which barely anyone will see or notice, so your hands are clean.

Result = you sold the false news you intended to.

On the other hand however the BBC are systematically training the whole world to hear 'women' in a sentence and rather than go obediently 'oh yes, women, some of whom will have penises, yay for righteousness' and instead go cynically 'oh yeah? how many blokes are you talking about?'

If anyone is still remotely interested in this:

To my follow-up complaint saying this response is just a copy and paste of the public defence the BBC made at the time and asking how they could not know when they're meant to be professional journalists/broadcasters/researcher, I've received:

'Having already explained that the Woman’s Hour production team had not been made aware that one of the contestants was a trans woman prior to the programme, but subsequently clarified this on the programme’s podcast and on twitter, we regret we have no further relevant information we can offer about the matter.

However, we appreciate your feel strongly about the issue and your comments have again been shared with senior staff at Radio 4.

Thanks for getting in touch.'

I've replied with:
'Well, I've already explained that I thought people at the BBC were competent journalists and producers/editors and would have made sure they had all the facts before making the statement, especially as it's on a subject that attracts much debate/scrutiny and much strong feeling. It's unfortunate that you have no further relevant information to offer about the matter. I cannot shake the feeling that the BBC are stonewalling (to use a somewhat apposite phrase) on this. Please do share that with senior staff at Radio 4 too.'