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The BBC’s director general, George Entwistle, has resigned in the wake of the network’s Newsnight child abuse broadcast wherein it was falsely reported that a politician was involved in the sexual abuse of numerous children.
Additionally, since a rival broadcaster carried charges last month that a former BBC star, the late Jimmy Savile, was one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders. It seems that hundreds upon hundreds of individuals have come forward reporting they were sexually abused by Savile dating back decades. However, the BBC decided to shelve its own report into those allegations regarding Savile, leading many to speculate that the BBC itself was engaging in some kind of a cover-up.
Lawyers representing some of the victims have said their clients indicated an organized pedophile ring involving celebrities existed at the BBC during the height of Savile’s fame in the 1970s and 1980s.
Here is Entwistle’s full statement:
“In the light of the fact that the Director-General is also the Editor-in-Chief and ultimately responsible for all content; and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday 2nd November; I have decided that the honorable thing to do is to step down from the post of Director-General.
“When appointed to the role, with 23 years’ experience as a producer and leader at the BBC, I was confident the Trustees had chosen the best candidate for the post, and the right person to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. However the wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader.
“To have been the Director-General of the BBC even for a short period, and in the most challenging of circumstances, has been a great honor.
“While there is understandable public concern over a number of issues well covered in the media – which I’m confident will be addressed by the Review process – we must not lose sight of the fact that the BBC is full of people of the greatest talent and the highest integrity. That’s what will continue to make it the finest broadcaster in the world.”
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