A BBC presenter is accused of buying nude pictures of a teenager, several British media reports. He is said to have paid over 500,000 kroner – money that should have financed the teenager’s crack addiction, according to his family.
“Given the nature of the allegations, it is important that the BBC is now given the space to carry out its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action”, writes Lucy Frazer, UK Culture Secretary, on Twitter.
The first time the presenter is said to have requested nude photos was in 2020, when the teenager was 17 years old, writes The Sun. Since then, the presenter has made several payments.
– It is huge. It’s at the top of all the agendas and what everyone’s talking about right now, says Petra Nordlund McGahan, TV4’s reporter on the ground in London.
The young person’s mother says she was “shocked” when her child showed her a picture from a video call between her child and the presenter.
She says the picture showed the presenter sitting on a sofa wearing only underpants.
– Leaned forward and prepared to see my child perform for him, she says and continues:
– My child tell me; i have shown things, and that this was a picture from some type of video call.
The mother heard phone calls
The mother tells the newspaper that she will also overhear a conversation between the presenter and her child. During the conversation, the presenter is said to have said to the teenager: “I told you to give up calling me”.
The money is said to have been used by the teenager to maintain an abuse of crack, which according to the mother has “ruined” his life.
Several politicians have criticized the BBC’s handling of the case, as the mother should have contacted the organization already in May, but the company’s investigation is said to have been delayed, reports Sky News.
Profile disabled
The profile will not be seen or heard in the BBC’s broadcasts in the near future. On Sunday afternoon, the BBC announced that the accused man has been suspended from his job while their internal investigation will continue.
In an internal email sent to BBC employees, it appears that management takes the allegations “extremely seriously” and that they are in contact with the teenager’s family.
“We are in contact with the family referred to in the media. I want to assure you that we are working swiftly to establish the facts and to ensure that these matters are dealt with fairly and with care,” writes Tim Davie, Director, BBC.