LUCIE KON SAYS BBC PAID HER £400,000 AFTER WORKPLACE COMPLAINT

Lucie Kon says she received £400,000 from the BBC after raising concerns about antisemitic remarks and her treatment by colleagues. The BBC made her post redundant during a restructure. Kon said the payment covered redundancy back pay and a settlement for personal injury caused by the process. She had worked as a commissioning editor overseeing documentaries, including Mr Nobody Against Putin. The BBC said it did not uphold any allegation of antisemitism.

Kon said her religion became an issue at work after the Hamas-led 7 October attacks in Israel. She said a colleague responded to her calling Hamas “evil” by saying: “So are the Zionists.” Kon also said colleagues questioned whether she should oversee We Will Dance Again, a documentary about the attack on the Nova music festival, because she was Jewish. She served as an executive producer on the film, which won an Emmy last year. Kon helped lead a group representing Jewish BBC staff and raised concerns with Tim Davie, who was director general at the time.

The BBC acknowledged “shortcomings” in its treatment of Kon and said they had a “personal impact” on her, without specifying what they were. Kon said an internal grievance process upheld parts of her complaint but rejected most of it. She told the BBC: “I really did feel like I had Jew stamped on my forehead.” Kon has also said she does not consider the BBC institutionally antisemitic. The corporation described her as a valued member of staff who had given it many years of service.