Stress mounts on BBC because it offers with presenter express photograph claims
P
ressure is mounting on the BBC because it offers with allegations that an unnamed presenter paid an adolescent tens of 1000’s of kilos for sexually express photos.
The company has been in contact with the police and confirmed a male member of workers has been suspended, whereas The Sun reported the presenter on the centre of the allegations made “panicked” calls to the younger particular person final week.
The newspaper mentioned the presenter allegedly requested “what have you done?”, including that it’s claimed he requested them to ring their mom to get her to “stop the investigation”.
The BBC has mentioned it had been investigating a criticism since May when it was first made conscious, and that new allegations of a “different nature” had been dropped at it on Thursday.
New allegations had been put to us on Thursday of a unique nature and along with our personal inquiries we have now additionally been in contact with exterior authorities, consistent with our protocols. We also can verify a male member of workers has been suspended
As nicely as being in contact with the police, the company is conducting its personal inquiries and speaking to the younger particular person’s household.
In a press release on Sunday night, the Metropolitan Police mentioned: “The Met has received initial contact from the BBC in relation to this matter, but no formal referral or allegation has been made.
“We will require additional information before determining what further action should follow.”
BBC director-general Tim Davie is because of face the media on Tuesday for a scheduled briefing following the discharge of the company’s annual report, however the rising disaster involving the unnamed presenter will dominate the occasion.
Mr Davie has mentioned he’s “wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent” after a number of well-known BBC faces had been compelled to publicly state they weren’t the person in query amid heavy hypothesis concerning the identification on social media.
In a be aware despatched to workers and seen by PA, Mr Davie mentioned the company takes “all such allegations incredibly seriously”.
A BBC spokesperson mentioned: “The BBC first became aware of a complaint in May.
“New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own inquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.
“We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended.
“We expect to be in a position to provide a further update in the coming days as the process continues. The BBC board will continue to be kept up to date.”
The assertion added the company has a “robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations”.
“This is a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps”, the BBC added.
“It is important that these matters are handled fairly and with care.
“We have been clear that if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up.”
The allegations reported by The Sun newspaper claimed the BBC star paid the particular person, mentioned to have been 17 when the funds started, £35,000 in alternate for the pictures.
The teenager’s mom advised The Sun she noticed an image of the presenter on her baby’s cellphone “sitting on a sofa in his house in his underwear”.
The mom mentioned she was advised it was “a picture from some kind of video call” and seemed like he was “getting ready for my child to perform for him”.
The household had been mentioned to have complained to the BBC on May 19, however allegedly grew to become pissed off that the star remained on air.
Mr Davie’s be aware to workers on Sunday mentioned: “The BBC became aware of a complaint in May; the BBC investigations team have been looking into this since it was raised and have been actively following up.
“New allegations, of a different nature, were put to us on Thursday, and in addition to our own enquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols.
“I can also confirm that we have suspended a member of staff.”
He added: “By law, individuals are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy, which is making this situation more complex. I also want to be very clear that I am wholly condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet about some of our presenting talent.
“We are in contact with the family referenced in the media reports. I want to assure you that we are working rapidly to establish the facts and to ensure that these matters are handled fairly and with care, including by external authorities where appropriate.”
Earlier on Sunday, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer mentioned Mr Davie assured her the company is “investigating swiftly and sensitively” into the allegations.
Gary Lineker and Rylan Clark had been among the many BBC stars who publicly said they weren’t the presenter in query, with Lineker tweeting: “Hate to disappoint the haters but it’s not me.”
While Clark wrote: “Not sure why my name’s floating about but re that story in the Sun – that ain’t me babe. I’m currently filming a show in Italy for the BBC, so take my name out ya mouths.”
Jeremy Vine additionally mentioned: “Just to say I’m very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday — whoever the ‘BBC Presenter’ in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain’t me.”
Nicky Campbell instructed he had contacted police about being falsely talked about on-line in reference to the story.
He tweeted a screenshot which featured the Metropolitan Police brand and the phrases: “Thank you for contacting the Metropolitan Police Service to report your crime.”
“I think it’s important to take a stand. There’s just too many of these people on social media. Thanks for your support friends,” he wrote.