BBC Investigation Finds Managers “Tolerated” Culture Of Homophobic Abuse At Radio Station

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: A BBC whistleblowing investigation has found evidence that management failed to stamp out a culture of homophobic abuse at a local radio station.

The internal report, which is understood to have been completed this year, partially upheld an allegation that “failings at a managerial and institutional level in BBC Radio Cornwall created and sustained an environment in which homophobic abuse was implicitly or explicitly tolerated.” The conclusion of the whistleblowing investigation was disclosed as part of an employment tribunal involving former BBC Radio Cornwall presenter Jack Murley, who has taken legal action against the corporation for wrongful dismissal.

The BBC told the tribunal that Murley was fired for breaking social media guidelines, but the presenter argued he was discriminated against for being gay and a union representative.

Murley’s closing written submission to the tribunal, obtained by Deadline, makes reference to the internal whistleblowing investigation and calls its conclusion “highly damning.” In its own closing submission, the BBC said the report detailed the “regrettable treatment” of Murley, but argued that it was not evidence that managers treated him “less favourably” because of his sexuality.