A major British media corporation, the BBC, has officially apologized to US President Donald Trump for the controversy surrounding the Panorama program, which aired an edited speech by Trump. However, the corporation absolutely refused to pay the amount of compensation demanded by Trump. In a statement by the BBC on November 13, it was emphasized that, although there is sincere regret about how the video material was edited, the firm position remains that there is no legal basis for slander.
Personal apologies to the White House from BBC management
In a special letter to the White House, BBC Chairman Samir Shah acknowledged this mistake and expressed regret for both himself and the corporation. At the same time, it was announced that the program, which is considered controversial in its essence, will no longer be broadcast again, and will not be posted on BBC platforms at all.
The film that caused the problem
The documentary, titled "Trump: A Second Chance?," aired on the BBC ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. In the film, several parts of Trump's speech delivered on January 6, 2021, are presented as a single fragment, creating the impression that Trump incited violence during the attack on the Capitol.
It was this editing that caused strong objections from the White House, accusing the BBC of "spreading fake news." Trump's lawyers demanded an open apology, a retraction, and compensation from the corporation. If this is not done, they are threatened with a $1 billion lawsuit.
Resignations and BBC inside shocks
Following the scandal, both BBC CEO Tim Davy and BBC News department head Deborah Terness announced their resignations. In his letter, Davy acknowledged "some mistakes" made by BBC staff and said he would take overall responsibility. He claimed that the current controversy and criticism at the BBC hastened his decision.
Deborah Terness also issued a separate statement, stating that she took responsibility for the events. However, he denied accusations that he acted in defense of BBC News and stated that he adhered to journalistic principles throughout the process.
BBC's firm position: there's an apology, no compensation
Although the corporation acknowledged the poor editing, it reiterated that, from a legal standpoint, there are no sufficient grounds for the compensation demanded by Trump. According to the BBC, this situation stems from an error in editing the information, but it does not reach the level of slander.
The conflict quickly became a major discussion in the global media and political arena. While Trump supporters harshly criticized the BBC, many British and international journalists supported the corporation for taking responsibility for information transparency.
Although the dispute between the BBC and Trump has not yet been officially closed, the main point is clear: the corporation admitted its mistake, but will not back down on the issue of compensation.
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