BBC News’ resigning CEO Deborah Turness has responded to criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and others after the shocking news of her exit alongside director general Tim Davie on Sunday night. When questioned by journalists from her own newsroom outside of the BBC headquarters in London on Monday, Turness rejected claims of corruption and institutional bias.
She and Davie announced their resignations following a leaked memo published by The Telegraph over the weekend that suggested the BBC program “Panorama” edited a Trump speech to make it sound like he encouraged the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
“I would like to say it has been the privilege of my career to serve as the CEO of BBC News and to work with our brilliant team of journalists,” Turness said on Monday (via BBC News). “I stepped down over the weekend because the buck stops with me. But I’d like to make one thing very clear, BBC News is not institutionally biased. That’s why it’s the world’s most trusted news provider.”
Trump celebrated the news on Sunday night, calling the organization “corrupt ‘journalists.’”
“These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election,” Trump wrote. “On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!”
Responding to that claim, Turness said: “Of course our journalists aren’t corrupt. Our journalists are hardworking people who strive for impartiality and I will stand by their journalism.”
The BBC has been flanked by several other controversies this year, including a Gaza documentary that was found to be a “serious breach” of Ofcom’s broadcasting rules and its handling of controversy at Glastonbury Festival when it aired the punk duo Bob Vylan chanting “death to the IDF.”
It is unclear exactly when Davie and Turness’ departures will go into effect. BBC chair Samir Shah is expected to formally apologize to the U.K.’s culture, sports and media committee later on Monday.