BBC Apologizes for Omitting Jewish Victims in Holocaust Memorial Day Coverage
Despite the slaughter of six million Jewish men, women, and children, presenters on Radio 4 and BBC Breakfast referred only to "six million people," a move Jewish leaders have slammed as a "hurtful, disrespectful" abuse of memory and a surrender to a climate of rising antisemitism.
The BBC has issued an apology after facing backlash for failing to explicitly identify Jews as the primary victims of the Holocaust in several of its news bulletins on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.In broadcasts on Radio 4's Today programme and BBC Breakfast, presenters referred to the six million victims as "people murdered by the Nazi regime" without mentioning that the vast majority were Jewish.
For instance, Today presenter Caroline Nicholls stated: “Buildings across the UK will be illuminated this evening to mark Holocaust Memorial Day to commemorate the six million people murdered by the Nazi regime more than 80 years ago.” Similar phrasing appeared in segments hosted by BBC Breakfast presenters Martine Croxall, Matthew Amroliwala, and Jon Kay.
The omission drew sharp criticism from Jewish organizations and public figures. The Campaign Against Antisemitism demanded an explanation, stating, "Even on Holocaust Memorial Day, the BBC cannot bring itself to properly address antisemitism." Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, called it "an abuse of the memory of the Holocaust and an insult to victims and survivors," emphasizing that "The Holocaust was the murder of six million Jewish men, women and children."
Former BBC executive Danny Cohen described the incident as "a new low point for the national broadcaster."
In response to the complaints, the BBC acknowledged the error later that day. A spokesperson said: “In the news bulletins on Today and in the introduction to the story on BBC Breakfast there were references to Holocaust Memorial Day which were incorrectly worded, and for which we apologise. Both should have referred to ‘six million Jewish people’ and we will be issuing a correction on our website.”
Notably, other parts of the BBC's programming on the day did highlight the Jewish victims, including interviews with relatives of Holocaust survivors and a report from the network's Religion Editor.