BBC Upholds Complaints Over Controversial Martine Croxall 'Pregnant People' Clip

The BBC has upheld viewer complaints regarding a segment presented by Martine Croxall on BBC News. During a report about a heatwave, Croxall read from her autocue that research indicated nearly 600 heat-related deaths were expected in the UK. When the script mentioned "pregnant people," Croxall paused, made a facial expression, and changed the wording to "women." This alteration and her accompanying expression were interpreted by some viewers as showing disgust, ridicule, contempt, or exasperation towards the term "pregnant people," leading to 20 complaints. The BBC's executive complaints unit determined that while the facial expression might have been a reaction to cumbersome scripting that included phrases like "the aged" and "pregnant people," which did not align with BBC style or the subsequent interview, it nonetheless gave the strong impression of expressing a personal viewpoint. The unit noted that the congratulatory messages Croxall received on social media and the w... download the app to read more