The director-general of the scandal-rocked BBC admitted it made a “very significant mistake” in broadcasting the “anti-semitic” Glastonbury performance of punk-rap group Bob Vylan. There was outrage when the crowd was led in a chant calling for the “death” of the Israeli Defence Forces.
Tim Davie admitted it was an “anti-semitic broadcast” when he was grilled by MPs. Bury North MP James Frith – a former musician whose band Finka played Glastonbury in 2003 – told the BBC boss the crowd had been whipped up into an “anti-semitic frenzy”.
Mr Davie said: “I think it was deeply disturbing what happened. I mean, the BBC made a very significant mistake – very significant – in broadcasting that. “
However, he refused to spell out the consequences those responsible will face, describing them as “well-intentioned people who made a mistake”. Mr Frith said the BBC should “show a level of empathy for Jews at Glastonbury who felt they needed to assemble a safe space because of anti-semitic chanting”.
The MP said: “I have sympathy with the professional crisis [BBC staff] might be facing but it’s not the same as hate-fuelled chanting from the stage at frankly the marquee event of the music industry.”
Mr Davie dodged the question of whether he considered resigning, saying: “This is not a job for the faint-hearted.”
His appearance before the culture, media and sport committee came in the wake of Gregg Wallace and John Torode being sacked as MasterChef presenters following allegations about their conduct.
Mr Davie signalled nobody was too powerful to be sacked.
He said: “No one is irreplaceable. We are all dispensable.
“That’s an absolute, unequivocal position being given to the whole BBC.”
The director-general admitted more scandals could surface, saying: “We may see more things coming out, because in some ways I’m asking for it, and being utterly transparent and running towards the problem – that’s what we need to do.”
He was joined by BBC chairman Samir Shad, who addressed the controversy surrounding the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary. It was pulled from iPlayer when it was revealed the child narrator’s father has a deputy agriculture minister for the Hamas-run government.
Mr Shad described it as a “bad mistake”, saying: “It was a sin of omission, which is just as serious as a sin of commission.”
Mr Davie also defended the casting of former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner on Strictly Come Dancing. Mr Skinner has come under fire after saying it is “not far Right” to be “flying your flag and loving your country”.
He said: “Clearly, we wouldn’t take anyone whose views are just beyond the pale, or we would see as completely unacceptable or not suitable, racist views, all those things, we wouldn’t accept them.
“But that’s not the case here, from what I know.”
