World · Europe · 1 hr ago
BBC pays £400,000 to producer Lucie Kon after antisemitism claims
The BBC paid Lucie Kon £400,000 after she raised claims of antisemitism and mistreatment at work.
Kon, a Jewish documentary producer, was a commissioning editor for the BBC’s Storyville documentary strand before leaving last year.
She said colleagues treated her unfairly after the October 7 attacks, including telling her that Zionists like her were “evil.”
Kon made a formal complaint, but the BBC’s internal investigation did not uphold it, according to one account.
The BBC later paid her in a settlement connected to unfair dismissal proceedings, without admitting liability.
The payment is the first known BBC settlement over antisemitism claims, while the broadcaster says antisemitism is not tolerated and concerns are investigated under its policies.
The BBC paid documentary producer Lucie Kon £400,000 after she alleged she faced antisemitism and bullying at the broadcaster.
Kon said colleagues made hostile comments about her being Jewish and a Zionist after the October 7 attacks.
The Daily Mail reported that the settlement followed unfair dismissal proceedings and was made without an admission of liability.
Deadline said an internal BBC investigation did not uphold Kon’s complaint.
The BBC said it does not comment on individual staffing matters and that allegations are investigated under its policies.
- Who
- The BBC paid Lucie Kon, a documentary producer and former Storyville commissioning editor.
- What
- Kon received a £400,000 payout after alleging antisemitism and bullying at the broadcaster.
- When
- The reports were published on October 25 and 26, 2026. The alleged treatment followed the October 7 attacks.
- Where
- At the BBC. Kon worked on its documentary strand Storyville.
- Why
- Kon alleged that colleagues mistreated her because she was Jewish and open about being a Zionist.
Lucie Kon
BBC
Treatment at work
Lucie Kon
Kon said colleagues made hostile comments about Jews and Zionists and that she was bullied out of the broadcaster.
BBC
The BBC said it does not comment on individual staffing matters and that allegations are taken seriously and investigated under its policies.
Complaint and settlement
Lucie Kon
Kon complained formally and received a £400,000 payout.
BBC
Deadline reported that an internal BBC investigation did not uphold her complaint; the Daily Mail said the settlement was made without an admission of liability.
Kon said she faced hostile treatment at the BBC because she was Jewish and open about being a Zionist.
More than 200 Jewish staff, contractors, suppliers and contributors wrote to the BBC chairman seeking an urgent formal investigation into alleged antisemitism and bias.
Kon left her role as a Storyville commissioning editor, according to Deadline.
Reports said the BBC had paid Kon £400,000.
- Payout
- £400,000
- Producer
- Lucie Kon
- Former role
- Storyville commissioning editor
- Film credit
- Mr. Nobody Against Putin, which Deadline said won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature earlier in 2026.
- BBC response
- It said antisemitism in any form is not tolerated and that concerns are investigated under its policies.
3 sources
What people are saying
I think I became a problem
I think I made too much noise about being a Jew inside the BBC
I stood up for my community. I was open about being a Zionist. The BBC says, bring your authentic self to work. And I did. And I lost my job as a result.
While we do not comment on individual staffing matters, antisemitism in any form is not tolerated at the BBC.