Oscar-winning producer says she received £400,000 payout from BBC after complaints about antisemitism

Lucy Kon, who worked as a commissioning editor for documentary projects at the BBC, said she received £400,000 from the corporation after being dismissed in a restructuring. The BBC did not confirm the allegations of antisemitism but acknowledged 'shortcomings' in its handling of the employee.

Otabek YusupovFirst published on tafs uz 27 October 2026 at 02:062 min read

The key facts

Lucy Kon claims that after the 7 October attacks she faced antisemitic remarks from BBC colleagues
The corporation did not confirm the allegations but acknowledged 'shortcomings' in its handling of Kon
Kon herself stated that the BBC 'is not institutionally antisemitic'

The essence of the conflict

Oscar winner and executive producer Lucy Kon, who worked at the BBC as a commissioning editor for documentary projects — including the film 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' — said she received a payout of £400,000 from the corporation after she raised the issue of antisemitic remarks by colleagues. She told this to The Telegraph, and then also commented on the situation to BBC News.

What Kon claims and what the BBC acknowledges

According to Kon, after the Hamas attacks of 7 October, colleagues called 'Zionists like her' 'evil'. She also claims that a colleague told her: 'if you want to call Hamas terrorists, then you should call Israel terrorists too'. Kon led a group representing the corporation's Jewish staff and raised these issues with then director-general Tim Davie. 'I became a problem,' she told BBC News. 'I genuinely felt as if I had

The corporation's position

Kon's position was made redundant during a BBC restructuring. She says the payout covered the outstanding severance pay and compensation for damage to her health caused by the process itself. The BBC said that none of the allegations of antisemitism had been upheld, but the corporation acknowledged 'shortcomings' in its handling of Kon, which 'affected her personally'; the BBC did not disclose their specific nature. The corporation also noted that it is grateful to Kon for acknowledging that the BBC 'is not institutionally antisemitic' — Kon herself later said this on air on LBC, adding that before 7 October her religion had not been an issue during her years at the corporation. The BBC called her 'a valued member of staff with many years of dedicated service'.