UK Politics
John Cleese says BBC “ashamed itself” over Iran protest coverage
John Cleese sharply criticized the BBC for allegedly downplaying protests in Iran to avoid offending Islamists. He claimed the broadcaster prioritizes trivial stories over significant events amidst severe unrest in Iran. Although the BBC defended its coverage, critics express diminishing public trust in its reporting of crucial global issues.
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Should Cleese have backed claims BBC ignored Iran protests to?
- Cleese backs claims BBC ignored Iran protests to avoid offence
- Broadcaster accused of prioritising trivia over historic unrest
- BBC denies bias, insists Iran covered “daily”
John Cleese has launched a blistering attack on the BBC, accusing it of failing to properly cover mass protests in Iran and being more concerned with not offending Islamist sensitivities in the UK.
The criticism comes as Iran faces widespread unrest driven by soaring inflation, food prices rising by more than 70 per cent, corruption, civil rights abuses and deepening energy shortages. Many see the protests as one of the most serious challenges yet to the Islamic Republic.
Despite the scale of the moment, critics say the BBC has treated events in Iran as a side story. The Israeli Embassy previously accused the broadcaster of near-total silence, while Iranian journalists have claimed the protests do not fit the BBC’s preferred narrative.
Cleese reignited the row by reposting claims that the BBC was deliberately downplaying events to avoid offending Islamists in Britain. He responded bluntly: “This is the best explanation I’ve read so far. Incredible as it seems. I am so ashamed of the BBC.”
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The actor later shared footage of the BBC News homepage, highlighting lighter celebrity stories while Iran protests were absent. His verdict was savage. Cleese accused BBC News staff of lacking the ability to distinguish between “the utterly trivial and really significant,” branding the organisation “breathtakingly rudderless”.
Cleese also amplified comments from J K Rowling, who praised the bravery of Iranian protesters and described them as a rare light in a dark global moment.
The BBC has firmly rejected the accusations. A spokesperson insisted coverage of Iran has appeared daily across all platforms, including English-language bulletins and BBC News Persian. The BBC News press team even published screenshots to prove its case.
But for critics, the damage is already done. When a national broadcaster must repeatedly insist it is doing its job, public confidence is clearly eroding.
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Have your say
Never watch the BBC
Too left-wing.
Let’s face it, the BBC of today is not the BBC we all used to know and depend upon. It is now completely influenced by leftist and Globalist elements who are anti-UK and pro any organisation that will help them to wreck our present society, in any way possible . . just another tool of destruction . . . as is the one in No.10.
I’m afraid the publics
The BBC is not the same as before. The EU is not the same as before. Universities are not the same as before. Mainstream political parties are not the same as before. They have been hijacked and corrupted by people who loathe the west, loathe christianity, loathe western culture democracy and the freedom of the individual to think and choose for themselves. Not just the Labour party in the UK, but the tories too as shown by Boris Johnston’s idiotic decisions when it came to immigration and sharia courts. Islamists and communists in an unholy alliance. It is not just Britain but the entire western worls that is in a fight for its very existence. I say that as a person who was centre left and who lived in the UK for years and still has connections there. I have seen the change over thirty odd years. Absolutely terrifying. Wake up please, UK.
Guardian ABC BBC CNN NYT WP LBC C4 always support the dictators, despots and terrorists
Your reaction
Don’t watch the drivel, ITV are just as bad noting a video of 20-30 thugs on the streets, and they both spout coverage of news across the globe, absolute lies taken from the Liebour playbook!