The Sunday Sport’s riposte to this BBC apology might just snatch Burn of the Year
In the aftermath of Ghislaine Maxwell being found guilty of grooming and sex trafficking offences, the media was awash with interviews. Some were with legal experts, others with people who had been following the case, and one brave victim of Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein – Annie Farmer – spoke to various news outlets.
The BBC chose to interview Jeffrey Epstein’s former lawyer, Alan Dershowitz – himself accused of being an abuser in Epstein and Maxwell’s circle. He took the opportunity to attack his accuser.
Here’s how people reacted to the interview.
Sorry, what?! @BBCNews now have Alan Dershowitz on to analyse #GhislaineMaxwell’s conviction, without any reference to his background;he’s simply introduced as “constitutional lawyer” as if he’s a neutral expert. Shocked. Utterly bizarre decision & does the audience a disservice. pic.twitter.com/l7qOqVsTTW
— Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC (@caoilfhionnanna) December 29, 2021
What the hell were you thinking @BBCNews?
So wrong
On so many levels https://t.co/rl4FetbwXX
— Marina Purkiss (@MarinaPurkiss) December 30, 2021
In quite a swift turnaround, the BBC issued this apology.
Statement on interview with Alan Dershowitz pic.twitter.com/MlXkqdJI8u
— BBC News Press Team (@BBCNewsPR) December 30, 2021
If they’d hoped it would put the matter to rest, they were in for some disappointment.
‘We will look into how this happened.’
Yeah, it’s so weird how shit like this just keeps ‘happening’ without anyone causing it or anything. You should definitely look into this.
— Max Morgan 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ (they/them) (@SpillerOfTea) December 30, 2021
BBC's sorry not sorry 'apology' doesn't bother to mention why Alan Dershowitz wasn't a suitable person to interview. It's because he's an accused in relation to this powerful abuse ring and he has a history of using media appearances to smear victims https://t.co/BtV3UnF2KI
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) December 30, 2021
‘We are sorry to hear that you noticed’ https://t.co/WLW2AqSmE5
— Tiernan Douieb (@TiernanDouieb) December 30, 2021
Hate to be an old-timer who chirps about better days. But at my old paper, a disaster this raw and embarrassing required us to shoot a senior editor, burn the cadaver in a newsroom pyre, then mix the ashes with printer's ink and sent out in the home final as a warning to others. https://t.co/dEYYSlggTD
— David Simon (@AoDespair) December 30, 2021
The best response, however, must surely be this one from the Sunday Sport, acknowledging its own reputation for being less than stringent with its fact-checking.
That's putting it mildly. It didn't even meet OUR editorial standards.
— Sunday Sport (@thesundaysport) December 30, 2021
It might even slide in at the last moment to snatch Burn of the Year.
Beyond brilliant. But highly likely TRUE. https://t.co/fiKf3agf04
— John Bull (@larrymeath) December 30, 2021
One more time, because although it's a late entry this might well turn out to be the Twitter burn of the year: pic.twitter.com/5a7Mav9uUU
— Stephen Farrow 🇪🇺 (@stephenfarrow) December 30, 2021
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) December 30, 2021
This tweet wins the internet. https://t.co/pKeTtDEiJz
— Fractured Cassandra (@Frances_Coppola) December 31, 2021
Maybe that should be Burn of the Decade.
That’s quite possibly the greatest reply to a tweet there’s ever been …
— Phil Gould (@bongosaloon) December 30, 2021
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Source Sunday Sport Image BBC News PR
