Nova atrocities moved them less: BBC staff in severe antisemitic step

BBC public relations staff refused to promote a documentary about the Nova massacre, claiming it was "too political." The Jewish producer, Lucy Kohn, hired an independent publicist, and the film was screened at a Jewish cultural center. Kohn was fired and received compensation of over £400,000.

BBC public relations staff refused to promote a documentary about the Nova massacre, which took place during the October 7, 2023 attack. According to reports, the film was produced for the BBC, but the corporation's publicists turned their backs on it, claiming the subject was "too political." The Jewish producer, Lucy Kohn, alleged that the network allowed employees to abandon their shifts in an unprecedented manner. Following the internal boycott, Kohn was forced to hire an independent publicist to organize the film's premiere. The screening was ultimately held at a Jewish cultural center, following recommendations from BBC security advisors and the London Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command. Documents submitted by Kohn revealed that a colleague at the network criticized the choice of venue, baselessly claiming the decision was "Islamophobic" and refused to attend the event. BBC sources insisted to The Telegraph that the real reason for the refusal was not political, but rather that the film's material was difficult to watch. The incident adds to a series of complaints by Kohn about a hostile and antisemitic work environment. Ultimately, Kohn was fired from the network, and after threatening to sue, she received financial compensation of over £400,000. The film, produced in collaboration between the BBC, Paramount+, and HOT, won an Emmy for current affairs documentary in June 2025, but the BBC chose not to mention the award in its annual report.