The BBC says “no further action will be taken” after news presenter Ben Brown physically pushed a woman during a live television broadcast
BBC News presenter Ben Brown physically pushed the female passer-by during a live television broadcast Tuesday.
Brown was in Bradford speaking about the new Labour Party manifesto with his colleague, assistant political editor Norman Smith, when the unnamed woman walked between the two men and said “absolutely fantastic,” giving a thumbs-up. But she was quickly pushed aside by Brown, who appeared to grab her breast. The woman then slapped the presenter on the arm before walking off camera.
Later that day, Brown tweeted: “Unfortunate interruption of broadcast in Bradford – just tried to minimise disruption but v tricky live on air – completely unintentional”.
Yesterday I asked the BBC if it was appropriate that Brown physically pushed a woman who interrupted his conversation; if the BBC agrees the woman had the right to stand on a public street in Bradford, regardless of whether or not her presence inconvenienced Brown and/or BBC News; and if Brown could clarify what he was referring to in his tweet as being “completely unintentional,” as it was clear he intended to push the woman.
Today BBC News replied that Brown’s actions were “clearly unintentional and an accident” and that “no further action will be taken.”
Dear Mr. Jones
We appreciate you were concerned by an incident in which our presenter Ben Brown accidently made contact with a member of the public who had interrupted a live broadcast on the BBC News Channel.
Ben explained what had happened in a tweet soon afterwards, which you can see below:
“Unfortunate interruption of broadcast in Bradford – just tried to minimise disruption but v tricky live on air – completely unintentional”
As Ben said, this was clearly unintentional and an accident, and no further action will be taken.
Thank you for contacting us.
Kind Regards
BBC Complaints Team
http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints
Shooting the Messenger 