Former Sky News presenter Kay Burley has been heavily criticized for defending Prince Andrew during a BBC Newsnight segment, where she called him a 'war hero' while sitting next to a Jeffrey Epstein survivor. The remark sparked immediate backlash from viewers and panelists alike.
Burley's Controversial Comment
During the broadcast, Burley, 65, was seated alongside survivor Lisa Phillips, MP Alex Davies-Jones (Minister for Victims), and presenter Victoria Derbyshire. Phillips urged other victims to come forward, saying, 'What I would love is for my survivor sisters here to get in touch with me on my website.' Davies-Jones added, 'Anyone can come forward – we already have had survivors coming forward claiming they were also victims of Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell.'
Derbyshire asked if these were British victims, and Davies-Jones confirmed. At that moment, Burley interjected: 'And we should accept that he was a war hero. We should just throw that in.' The comment was met with an awkward silence, and Derbyshire tried to move on by saying 'Thank you.' Burley reiterated, 'He was,' as she looked around the studio.
Public Outrage
Viewers flooded X (formerly Twitter) with fury. One user wrote: 'You owe a huge apology Kay Burley. Completely disgusting that you felt the need to say this.' Another posted: 'Newsnight with an investigation into Andrew’s Pizza Express story ending with a plea for survivors of his abuse to come forward. Kay Burley - ‘We should just accept that he was a war hero, we should just throw that in.’ No, Kay, we really shouldn’t just throw that in.'
A third viewer commented: 'My jaw dropped open watching Kay Burley on Newsnight add ‘we should remember he’s a war hero’ at the end of a piece about Andrew, with Epstein survivors. Incredible. How about adding ‘and Savile did a lot for charity’?' Another said: 'F*** off Kay, you have zero credibility and showed exactly who you are with the horrific ‘war hero’ comment.'
On Reddit, a viewer remarked: 'Wtf?? Love how there was pin drop silence, due to shock, from the other woman on the panel after that was said.'
Burley's History of Controversy
Burley retired from Sky News last year after helping launch it in 1989. She has faced criticism for her blunt interviewing style, including making singer Peter Andre cry in 2010 while discussing his ex-wife Katie Price's remarriage. In 2008, she sparked outrage by suggesting to Pam Wright, former partner of convicted killer Steve Wright, that her sex life might have contributed to his crimes. The Standard has contacted Burley’s representative for comment. Prince Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
