JK Rowling Debate Broke BBC Rules After Author Was Accused Of Being “Nasty” Transphobe
deadline.comThe BBC has said that a radio debate about JK Rowling broke editorial rules after a presenter failed to properly challenge claims that the Harry Potter author is transphobic.
During a feature on Radio 4’s PM show in February, host Evan Davis allowed Stacey Henley, a transgender woman, to criticize Rowling’s “nasty views” during a discussion about video game Hogwarts Legacy.
Henley, editor-in-chief of The Gamer, accused the author of pushing “transphobia” and said she was active in campaigning “against trans people.” Davis said Rowling “wouldn’t say she’s transphobic,” but this attempt to balance the conversation did not come until minutes after Henley’s initial comments.
The BBC received 199 complaints about the exchange. In a ruling on Thursday, the BBC’s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) said the radio show “did not meet the BBC’s editorial standards of impartiality.” The ECU considered the matter resolved, however, as the BBC and Davis had already publicly acknowledged the Rowling debate’s shortcomings.
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