06 October 2023 , 12:05
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The BBC made the decision to cut a comment made by presenter Fiona Bruce on Question Time on it's BBC iPlayer platform, following a huge backlash from viewers.
The 59 year old former newsreader turned TV presenter, was in the middle of hosting the political discussion programme when she opened the floor to allow members of the public to ask a question. However, it was when she was trying to direct the microphone handler to the audience member, she left viewers in shock as she said: "The guy there in the middle, the black guy in the middle, yes."
It didn't take long before viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter to express their concern at Fiona's remark.
BBC pulls Fiona Bruce's comment from Question Time amid huge backlash (BBC)After the social media furore, viewers noticed that the comment had been removed from the iPlayer catch-up episode.
On noticing the change, many fans demanded answers from the broadcaster. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one penned: "Dear @BBCNews Why did you cut out Fiona Bruce saying "the black guy" in the BBC One showing of @bbcquestiontime last night?It was audible on the live showing on @BBCiPlayer. Why edit it if you think she said nothing wrong? #bbcqt #Wolverhampton #FionaBruce."
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And another person said: "I am speechless. I seriously cannot believe that the presenter of Question Time just said this in 2023. I’ve complained to @Ofcom about this Fiona Bruce has now:– Made light of domestic abuse allegations “it was only one time”– Consistently demonstrated bias and shut down anti-Tory sentiment on the show– Picked out this gentleman based […]"
A third took to the social media platform to add: "Absolutely appalling! This is what we are reduced to with the language coming from our own Government!!!! Now BBCs highly paid presenter using such terrible and divisive language. Am amazed the guy could ask his question!!!!"
Meanwhile a fourth commented: "Spot the difference. How hard is it to say 'the man in the blue top' #bbqt."
Following the complaints, a BBC Spokesperson said: “We regret the choice of words used to identify the audience member. The intent was to ensure his voice was heard, however we recognise we should not have identified him in this way and apologise for any offence caused. As such the recorded version on iPlayer has been edited to remove this.”
But this is not the first time the BBC have been forced to protect and defend the presenter. Back in March this year, the TV network were forced to issue a statement defending the star after she made a comment that viewers found, had trivialised domestic abuse.
The BBC claimed that Fiona was not expressing "personal opinion" when she spoke of the reports concerning Boris Johnson's father, Stanley. Fiona had said that reports of Stanley regularly abusing his wife were incorrect and friends had claimed that it was a "one off".
On the back of huge backlash the statement read: "Following comments about an exchange referencing domestic abuse on Question Time, the BBC says Domestic abuse is abhorrent, and we would never wish to suggest otherwise. When serious allegations are made on air against people or organisations, it is the job of BBC presenters to ensure that the context of those allegations – and any right of reply from the person or organisation – is given to the audience, and this is what Fiona Bruce was doing last night. She was not expressing any personal opinion about the situation."
Recently, Fiona has issued an apology but it has been made clear that it was a "positive" conversation. She said: "I totally understand why my words last night caused offence and I apologise. I have spoken to the audience member directly and explained that usually I can see and describe an item of clothing or otherwise to help sound engineers with a microphone find people in the audience. Last night that was not the case as my view was obscured. In the split second I had, the easiest thing to do would have been to ignore the audience member and move on, but I felt strongly that his voice should be heard. Nonetheless, I feel it was wrong to identify him as I did and that’s why it was removed from the later edited programme.”