BBC director general Tim Davie (left) and CEO of News Deborah Turness resigned over criticism of the edit of a documentary about US President Donald Trump, BBC News reported on November 9, local time. Photo: Screenshot from BBC News

BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resigned over criticism of US President Donald Trump documentary edit, BBC News reported on Sunday local time. The incident sparked heated discussions among Chinese netizens, with some commenting that malicious editing seems to be a "BBC tradition" — only this time, "they kicked an iron plate."

Trump also wrote on his social media platform, Truth, saying that "the top people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the boss, are all quitting/fired because they were caught 'doctoring' my very good speech of January 6th. Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these corrupt 'journalists.'"

Tim Davie, 58, who has served as BBC director general since September 2020, announced his resignation after five years leading the corporation. His exit follows growing controversy surrounding a BBC Panorama documentary about Trump's January 6, 2021, speech, delivered before the attack on the US Capitol, according to the Fox News.

In a letter to staff, Davie said quitting the job "is entirely my decision." "Overall the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director-general I have to take ultimate responsibility," Davie said, Fox News reported.

Earlier, according to an exclusive report by the Telegraph last week, the BBC doctored a Trump speech by making him appear to encourage the Capitol Hill riot, according to an internal whistleblowing memo seen by The Telegraph.

A Panorama programme, broadcast a week before the US election, "completely misled" viewers by showing the president telling supporters he was going to walk to the Capitol with them to "fight like hell," when in fact he said he would walk with them "to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard," said in the report.

The dossier said the programme made the US president "'say' things 'he' never actually said" by splicing together footage from the start of his speech with something he said nearly an hour later.

The incident trended on China's social media platform Sina Weibo on Monday, where many users commented that such editing seems like a "longstanding tradition" of the BBC. "The BBC really messed up this time! Maliciously editing a president's speech to mislead viewers is a disgrace to journalism," one comment read. 

Another user wrote that the executives' resignation was "well-deserved," saying it proved the fabrication was undeniable. "Truth is the most basic bottom line for any news organization — this is utterly shameful," another comment said. Some users added that "cutting, splicing, and smearing are their usual tactics," while others remarked, "this time, they've really kicked an iron plate."

As a broadcaster that has long been involved in the reporting of politics inside and outside the UK, many of the BBC's practices have been criticized by Chinese netizens for biased and fake reporting on China. 

On Chinese social media platforms, some netizens termed its video editing style as a "hell filter" as they found the BBC always added a dark filter to the videos captured in China to portray the country in a negative light. Some netizens even conducted on-site investigations of the dimly lit street scenes featured in BBC programs to prove that these areas were actually quite bright.

Many netizens also commented under related posts on social media platform X, saying that malicious editing is a common tactic used by the BBC. 

One netizen questioned, "Why did you guys wait until now to let the public know about the video editing?" Another netizen noted, "Sometimes, when well-designed clips and menacing background music and color filters don't deliver, you will just have to fabricate your case."

Global Times