The BBC has paid £400,000 ($534,000) to one of the exec producers behind Oscar-winner Mr. Nobody Against Putin, who told The Telegraph she was the victim of antisemitism at the broadcaster.
Lucie Kon was commissioning editor at documentary strand Storyville before leaving last year after several years in post. She told The Telegraph she was victimized after the October 7 attacks and was told Zionists like her were “evil,” amongst other claims.
Kon said she formally complained to BBC management via a grievance and appeals process. While we understand an internal BBC investigation did not uphold her complaint, she has now been awarded a £400,000 payout, the first of its kind from the BBC over antisemitism claims.
“I think I became a problem,” Kon told The Telegraph. “I think I made too much noise about being a Jew inside the BBC. I stood up for my community. I was open about being a Zionist.”
As a Storyville commissioning editor, Kon was one of the EPs on Mr. Nobody Against Putin, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary feature earlier this year. Her other credits include We Will Dance Again and Sundance winner One in a Million.
In the wake of October 7, antisemitism has been an issue the BBC has struggled to get to grips with and documentary strand Storyville is in the eye of the storm. Just after October 7, then-BBC Storyville lead commissioning editor Emma Hindley generated headlines after embracing a director on stage who was later accused of making antisemitic remarks. The BBC later said the hug was due to the director being “visibly distressed” and not an endorsement of his views.
A BBC spokeswoman said: “While we do not comment on individual staffing matters, antisemitism in any form is not tolerated at the BBC. If allegations or concerns are raised, they are taken seriously and investigated in accordance with our policies. We have robust procedures in place to deal with any behaviour that is contrary to our values.”