BBC RADIO 1Xtra Sideman has quit from the station after the corporation defended its decision to broadcast the N-word in a television news broadcast.

Sideman said he no longer felt comfortable working for the national broadcaster after it stuck by the decision to broadcast the language in a report on a racially motivated hit-and-run attack in Bristol.

Report

The report originally aired on the regional service Points West before being repeated on the main BBC News channel.

Reporter Fiona Lamdin, repeated the language allegedly shouted during the attack.

The BBC said it wanted to report the word allegedly used in the attack, and this decision was supported by the family of the victim.

Complaints

It has prompted 18,000 complaints to Ofcom and there have been calls for an apology.

However, in a post on Instagram Sideman said the BBC’s decision to defend the broadcast “feels like a slap in the face of our community”.

Money and opportunity doesn’t outweigh the dissatisfaction that I feel with this situation. This is wild to me, especially in the current social climate, and I can’t make any sense of it no matter how much I think about it. So I think that’s it’s time that I left
Sideman

He said: “On this occasion I just don’t think I can look the other way. We live in a world that needs to change, systems that need to change, organisations that need to change.”

DEFENDING ITS DECISION: The BBC said it wanted to report the word allegedly used in the attack on a young black man in Bristol

As a person who believes that change can happen and wanting change to happen, I understand transition. I understand it’s not something that’s going to happen overnight. There will need to be a lot of learning and unlearning and tearing down of certain building blocks of society that took a long time to build up. I’m OK with process, I’m OK with waiting within reason for certain things to change.

‘Error in judgement’

“This is an error in judgment where I can’t just smile with you through the process and act like everything is OK. I’m happy working with organisations until we all get it right. But this feels like more than getting it wrong.

“That’s why effective immediately I’m leaving my job as a radio broadcaster for BBC 1Xtra. With no apology, I just don’t feel comfortable being aligned with the organisation.

Dissatisfaction

“Money and opportunity doesn’t outweigh the dissatisfaction that I feel with this situation. This is wild to me, especially in the current social climate, and I can’t make any sense of it no matter how much I think about it. So I think that’s it’s time that I left.”

A 1Xtra spokesperson said: “Sideman is an incredibly talented DJ. Obviously we are disappointed that he has taken this decision. We absolutely wish him well for the future. The door is always open for future projects.”

1 Comment

Posted on 9th August 2020 | Chaka Artwell

Sideman went on to reveal: “On this occasion I just don’t think I can look the other way. We live in a world that needs to change, systems that need to change, organisations that need to change.”

Sideman is an English African-skinned man who works for the BBC, which is strikingly bereth of prominent; influential, and empowered African-skinned men.
Mr. Sideman’s stance is glorious.
If only the African-skinned Parliamentarians had his conviction the Windrush victims would be dying having received none of the compensation Her Majesty’s Government has pledged to the English Subjects of Caribbean heritage; who were illegally exiled in 2018.
The BBC’s racial disparity of treatment must be called out. The BBC would not permit, tolerate or excuse a slur being broadcast against Feminists: the LGBTQI+ or English Jewry. So how can the BBC justify being tolerant of a racial slur against England’s African-skinned Subjects?
England has serious high levels of unemployment amongst men with African-skin.
I really hope Mr. Sideman is able to secure alternative employment for being bold enough to make a stand based on his beliefs.

Comments Form

Posted on 9th August 2020 | Chaka Artwell
“Money and opportunity doesn’t outweigh the dissatisfaction that I feel with this situation. This is wild to me, especially in the current social climate, and I can’t make any sense of it no matter how much I think about it. So I think that’s it’s time that I left.”
Sideman

Sideman went on to reveal: “On this occasion I just don’t think I can look the other way. We live in a world that needs to change, systems that need to change, organisations that need to change.”

Sideman is an English African-skinned man who works for the BBC, which is strikingly bereth of prominent; influential, and empowered African-skinned men.
Mr. Sideman’s stance is glorious.
If only the African-skinned Parliamentarians had his conviction the Windrush victims would be dying having received none of the compensation Her Majesty’s Government has pledged to the English Subjects of Caribbean heritage; who were illegally exiled in 2018.
The BBC’s racial disparity of treatment must be called out. The BBC would not permit, tolerate or excuse a slur being broadcast against Feminists: the LGBTQI+ or English Jewry. So how can the BBC justify being tolerant of a racial slur against England’s African-skinned Subjects?
England has serious high levels of unemployment amongst men with African-skin.
I really hope Mr. Sideman is able to secure alternative employment for being bold enough to make a stand based on his beliefs.

Radio 1Xtra’s Sideman quits the station after BBC defends use of N-word in report