BBC pays compensation to PinkNews couple over false sexual misconduct allegations

The Guardian UK Thursday 08 October 2026, 15:23 UTC By Michael Savage Media editor 1 min read

Key Points

Broadcaster apologises after admitting claims against Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James were defamatoryThe BBC has apologised and paid “substantial” compensation to the couple behind the PinkNews website, after conceding that stories accusing them of sexual misconduct were false and defamatory. In a sweeping admission, the BBC accepted at the high court that a 2024 iPlayer documentary about the PinkNews founder Benjamin Cohen and his husband, Anthony James, called PinkNews: Behind Closed...

Broadcaster apologises after admitting claims against Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James were defamatory

The BBC has apologised and paid “substantial” compensation to the couple behind the PinkNews website, after conceding that stories accusing them of sexual misconduct were false and defamatory.

In a sweeping admission, the BBC accepted at the high court that a 2024 iPlayer documentary about the PinkNews founder Benjamin Cohen and his husband, Anthony James, called PinkNews: Behind Closed Doors, had made “a series of very serious, false, and defamatory allegations”.

Benjamin Cohen (PERSON) Anthony James (PERSON) iPlayer (ORG) PinkNews (ORG)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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