BBC Pays Producer Over £400,000 After She Is Let Go

The BBC has paid a former producer more than £400,000 to settle a dispute over antisemitism in the workplace.

Lucie Kon, who holds an Oscar, an Emmy, and a BAFTA, left the broadcaster in April. She had won the Oscar for her work just 19 days before her departure. Kon alleged that her treatment changed after the October 7 attacks in Israel. She told The Telegraph that a colleague responded to a message about Hamas by calling Zionists evil. Kon described the remark as tasteless and noted that the two groups are not the same.

Kon raised concerns about how Jewish staff were treated. She insisted that staff should be able to describe Hamas as committing acts of terror. Another colleague replied that if Kon called Hamas terrorists, she had to call Israel a terrorist state as well. Kon helped create an internal WhatsApp group for Jewish employees and wrote to then-Director General Tim Davie. When she proposed a film about the October 7 events, a colleague dismissed the idea, saying enough films had been made about Israel. Her manager later said the film needed to contextualize why Hamas acted. When Kon asked why she could no longer oversee the project, her manager’s manager said it was because she was Jewish and partial.

The BBC arranged for Kon to oversee the film only under strict supervision to ensure impartiality. Kon filed a formal grievance, which the BBC did not uphold. The corporation told her that many alleged comments were not remembered and that her removal from the project was due to mental health concerns rather than her identity. Her appeal was also unsuccessful. The BBC moved her colleague to a different location while restricting Kon from traveling, commissioning work, or speaking for the broadcaster. She was told this was to be fair to her colleague.

Kon worked from home while her appeal was reviewed. By December, her health deteriorated from stress. After returning from sick leave, she applied for a new position but was rejected. The BBC made her redundant in April. She brought unfair dismissal proceedings. The corporation agreed to pay compensation, partly funded by the license fee, without admitting liability. The BBC refused to apologize or state that she was a victim of antisemitism.

Kon is the first known person to receive a settlement from the BBC after alleging antisemitic behavior by colleagues. She told The Telegraph that other Jewish staff are still being bullied. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation is not institutionally antisemitic. The statement noted that the BBC’s processes did not uphold any of Kon’s allegations of antisemitism but acknowledged the personal impact on her and her years of dedicated service.