Rutger Bregman, the Dutch historian and author chosen to deliver this year's Reith Lectures, has accused the BBC of cowardice after it removed a line from his first lecture in which he called Donald Trump 'the most openly corrupt president in American history'. The BBC confirmed it cut the remark on legal advice, but Bregman said the decision came from 'the highest levels' and was made against his wishes.
The corporation is already facing a multibillion-dollar lawsuit from Trump over an edit of one of his speeches by the programme Panorama. That row led to the resignations of director general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness. Bregman said he was told a week ago that his claim was being reviewed by US lawyers, and was informed on Monday it would be removed.
Bregman described the censorship as 'self-censorship driven by fear' and said it was 'especially ironic' because his lecture was about the 'paralysing cowardice' of today's elites. He said the edit was made four weeks after the lecture was recorded in front of 500 people at the BBC Radio Theatre, and after it had passed the full editorial process.
Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson Anna Sabine wrote to Davie calling for the full version to be broadcast, saying the BBC should not be 'cowed by the White House's bullyboy tactics'. The BBC said all programmes must comply with editorial guidelines and that the decision was made on legal advice.
Bregman, who rose to prominence after a speech at Davos in 2019, said he was 'genuinely dismayed' and hoped people would still listen to the lectures, which were recorded in London, Liverpool, Edinburgh and the US. He added that the message about elite cowardice was 'more relevant than ever'.
