BBC pays £400,000 settlement to Jewish producer Lucie Kon

The BBC has reached a settlement with Oscar-winning producer Lucie Kon, paying her over £400,000 following allegations of antisemitism and unfair treatment. Kon, a former commissioning editor for the Storyville documentary strand, claimed she was victimized by colleagues following the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Kon alleged that she was sidelined from overseeing a documentary regarding the Nova music festival because her Jewish identity was viewed as a lack of impartiality. She further claimed colleagues made antisemitic remarks, including describing Zionists as “evil” and suggesting that labeling Hamas as terrorists required labeling Israel as terrorists as well.

While an internal BBC investigation did not uphold the specific allegations of antisemitism, the corporation acknowledged “shortcomings” in its treatment of Kon and the resulting “personal impact” on her. The payout is described as a settlement for redundancy back pay and personal injury. Kon, who has worked on high-profile projects such as “Mr Nobody Against Putin,” stated that the experience made her feel isolated and that she “became a problem” for standing up for her community.