Indian-origin BBC journalist Naga Munchetty accused of bullying, inappropriate conduct
BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has been called in to address concerns about her workplace conduct, including alleged use of sexually suggestive language and remarks toward a junior colleague, according to a report by The Sun.
The allegations span two separate incidents. In 2022, Munchetty was reported to have made a crude, off-air remark referencing a sex act while on a break during her Radio 5 Live shift, a comment that reportedly prompted an informal reprimand from a senior producer.
No formal disciplinary action followed, though those present described the exchange as 'crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional.' One affected colleague was left feeling 'embarrassed' by the incident.
The scrutiny intensified after an incident on BBC Breakfast last year when Munchetty allegedly accused a junior member of staff, without evidence, of theft. The confrontation reportedly took place behind the scenes and concluded without an apology.
Following the episode, the junior employee left the show, reportedly feeling demoralised. 'It was humiliating,' an inside source said of the allegation.
These reports emerge amid rising concerns over the BBC's approach to workplace misconduct. As the first female presenter to be publicly scrutinised following scandals involving male figures like Giovanni Pernice, Graziano Di Prima, and Wynne Evans, Munchetty's case has sparked debate about perceived double standards. 'If a male presenter made a sexual comment like that… he'd be out the door. But with Naga, it gets brushed off,' claimed a Breakfast insider.
The BBC has acknowledged an internal review of the show's workplace culture, including an ongoing investigation into its editor, Richard Frediani, who is currently on leave amid his bullying allegations.
A BBC spokesperson in a statement said, 'We take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously,' though no comment was made on individual cases.
Munchetty rose to fame in 2018 when she interviewed writer and biologist David Attenborough for the BBC Breakfast show. The interaction went viral after she asked Attenborough a question about the royal family. The question left the writer visibly upset.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Indian-origin BBC journalist Naga Munchetty accused of bullying, misconduct
Indian-origin BBC presenter Naga Munchetty is facing allegations of bullying and inappropriate off-air behaviour. The 50-year-old has reportedly been reprimanded by BBC bosses over two incidents in the past three years. One of these involved a crude comment made during a break, where Munchetty allegedly used a slang term for a sex act and directed it at a another incident reported in 2024, Munchetty allegedly accused a junior female colleague on BBC Breakfast of stealing, an accusation insiders claim was false. The confrontation reportedly occurred behind closed was humiliating. There was no evidence, no apology. The woman left not long after, completely demoralised," an insider told The Sun, adding that this was not an isolated case: "It really is the tip of the iceberg." The 2022 incident reportedly shocked those present in the studio, prompting management to speak to Munchetty.A senior producer is said to have reprimanded her, although no formal disciplinary action followed. One insider described the moment as "crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional," adding that the person targeted "felt embarrassed".These revelations come amid heightened scrutiny of the BBC over workplace misconduct, with multiple allegations emerging involving senior Times recently reported that the BBC Breakfast editor, Richard Frediani, is currently under formal investigation for bullying. Staff have been asked to share their experiences of working on the programme, according to Deadline, a UK has taken extended leave following accusations that include shouting at staff, kicking a bin, and pressuring news teams not to save major stories for evening bulletins. One particularly serious allegation claims he shook a female the controversy, Munchetty appeared on air on BBC Breakfast on June 20 (Friday), co-hosting alongside Charlie Stayt. Reports indicate that she had previously raised concerns with BBC leadership about Frediani's conduct, even as allegations about her own behaviour within the BBC told The Times that Munchetty and Stayt had a strained relationship with Frediani, with minimal communication between them. "Fredi has no relationship with Charlie and Naga, which is weird when they are half of his frontline presenting roster," a senior figure in Salford said. 'It appears he doesn't like them and they don't like him for whatever reason, they don't talk to each other," he to the reports, a BBC spokesperson said, "While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values. We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed."
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Jannik Sinner and Andrea Bocelli collaborate for a single: All about the music video, heartfelt notes, and lyrics
Jannik Sinner, the legendary tennis player, and , the musical genius, collaborate on an extraordinary single. Swapping the tennis court for a piano session, Sinner shook hands with the Italian tenor for the track 'Polvere e Gloria,' which means Dust and Glory. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now About the music video 'Polvere e Gloria' The song has both Italian and English lyrics, and contains a music video that has bits and pieces of their respective childhood clips. Furthermore, they accompany each other for a piano session in the Italian countryside, and a wonderful transition from a tennis racket to the greenery. Andrea Bocelli 's heartfelt note Andrea Bocelli wrote a heartfelt note in his Instagram post while announcing the release of the song. 'Every life is a potential work of art: each of us bears the sweet responsibility of nurturing our talents in the daily acrobatics of living, pursuing our dreams while remaining steadfastly true to our values,' he said. 'This duet is such a bold leap that it has ignited our passion, born of a shared and unwavering desire to express of our deep belief that nothing is impossible,' he added in the post on Instagram. Jannik Sinner's heartwarming note... Meanwhile, Sinner stated that the collaboration with Bocelli has been extremely moving. 'I am very happy and honoured to be part of this project with Andrea, who for 30 years has been a unique and extraordinary voice, a flag for our country in the rest of the world,' he stated, before adding, 'I could never have imagined hearing my voice in one of his songs. It's extremely moving," according to BBC. About Andrea Bocelli Andrea Bocelli(66), who lost his eyesight at the age of 12, has been an important part of the culture. In 1994, he started his career with the album Il Mare Calmo Della Sera, and previously worked as a singer in piano bars. Not only did he sell a massive 90 million records worldwide, but he also had an opportunity to perform at the Olympics and the World Cup tournaments, according to the Evening Standard.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Indian-Origin BBC Presenter Naga Munchetty Accused Of Inappropriate Off-Air Behaviour And Bullying
Indian-origin BBC presenter Naga Munchetty is under fire after allegations of inappropriate off-air conduct and bullying, The Sun reported. The 50-year-old who is already at the centre of a BBC Breakfast toxicity row was reportedly reprimanded by bosses over two incidents in three years. The management also hauled her in over a comment she made during a break on Radio 5 Live. She allegedly used a crude slang term for a sex act and then directed the question at a colleague. The incident, which occurred in 2022, stunned the Radio 5 Live studio and led to Ms Mnchetty being hauled before bosses. According to The Sun, a senior producer reprimanded Ms Munchetty, but no formal action was taken. The 2022 incident was "crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional," one insider said, adding that the person on the receiving end "felt embarrassed". In a separate incident on the BBC Breakfast show last year, the outlet reported that Ms Munchetty was allegedly involved in the bullying of a junior staff member. She falsely accused a female junior staffer of stealing, which led to a closed-door showdown. "It was humiliating. There was no evidence, no apology. The woman left not long after, completely demoralised," the insider said. "That wasn't an isolated incident. It really is the tip of the iceberg," said another insider. Notably, the recent revelations come at a time when the BBC is facing scrutiny over multiple misconduct cases involving its on-air talent. According to The Times, BBC Breakfast show's editor Richard Frediani is at the centre of a formal bullying investigation. The outlet is conducting an internal review into his behaviour and general allegations of toxicity on the show. Staff have been approached about sharing their experience of working on the programme, according to Deadline. Mr Frediani, on the other hand, has taken an extended period of leave after the allegations about his behaviour. He has been accused of shouting at staff for on-air mistakes, kicking a bin and pressuring staff on central news desks not to withhold their best stories for the 6 pm and 10 pm bulletins. A BBC spokesperson said it did not comment on individual cases but takes "all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values". "We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed,' the spokesperson added.
