Clive Myrie was filmed lashing out at a pro-Palestinian protester who disrupted his event, prompting reactions from students who branded him a ‘Zionist’.
Footage has emerged of the BBC newsreader calling a troublemaker a ‘f****** idiot’ during a university Q&A event on September 25 amid accusations he spread ‘Israeli propaganda’.
Moments after the heated exchange at the University of the Arts London, where Myrie was recently appointed chancellor, he denounced the “madman who just walked out and didn’t have the courtesy to hear my answer.”
He added: “I have this idiot who shouts at me in public and then leaves. He doesn’t want to hear the other side.’
The 60-year-old later apologized for his choice of language but stood by his defense of open debate.
Footage has emerged of Clive Myrie, a regular newsreader for the national broadcaster, criticizing the ‘f****** idiot’ who harassed him during a question and answer event on September 25.
The 60-year-old later apologized for his choice of language but stood by his defense of open debate
Throughout the event, Myrie spoke to other students in attendance about the importance of freedom of expression.
He said: ‘He made his point and left. Gets up and he leaves. He did not stay to listen to my speech, mind you. Stands up, shouts, you (the audience) applaud. But he doesn’t stay to hear what I have to say. That’s sad.’
Later in the exchange, he discussed how he would listen to student concerns in his new role, but added, “I’m not going to let anyone walk away from me. I don’t have it. I will not allow myself to be abused by students.’
He adds that he would like to talk about his journalism regarding the Hamas-Israel conflict, but that he is not happy about being “butchered.”
A spokesperson for UAL said: ‘On Wednesday 25 September, Clive Myrie held a question and answer session with students to mark the start of the term.
‘During the event, some students gave their opinions on the ongoing war in Israel-Palestine. At the start of the session, Clive used language that he regrets. His apology was sent to attendees shortly after the event ended.
‘Clive maintains his feeling that dialogue must be rooted in mutual respect. At UAL, we will continue to uphold freedom of expression and encourage constructive conversations on all issues in our community.”
Myrie and the BBC have been contacted for comment.
The news presenter earns £310,000 for hosting bulletins, as well as an undisclosed fee for Mastermind, produced by the company’s commercial arm BBC Studios.
BBC presenter Clive Myrie has apologized for failing to declare income from 11 corporate events outside the broadcaster
This comes just days after the presenter was forced to apologize for failing to declare at least £65,000 in income from corporate events.
The Mastermind presenter earned the money over the past 12 months from corporate events, including speeches at events organized by Dutch bank ING and the Royal College of Surgeons.
On top of his £310,000-a-year salary for presenting the News At One, News At Six and News At Ten, Myrie earns an undisclosed amount for his work on the quiz show.
He had received income from a total of 11 events over the past year, earning between £5,000 and £10,000 for nine of them, and more than £10,000 for the remaining two, the Sunday Times reported.
BBC TV stars have been required to declare income from external sources since 2021.
A recent list of the Corporation’s top earners shows that Mr Myrie has received the most from external sources, of which he declared six this year up to June.
A recent list of the Corporation’s top earners shows that Mr Myrie has received the most from external sources, of which he had declared six this year up to June
Events for which he was paid included the British Insurance Brokers’ Association conference, previously organized by his colleague, the disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards.
But his list included eleven appearances, including keynote speeches at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s annual business conference and Legal & General Investment Management’s UK Wholesale Conference.
He also chaired a debate at a GreenTalks Live event at the Isle of Man Energy & Sustainability Center and hosted a lunch for the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association.
Most recently, he spoke at the Association of Insurance and Risk Managers in Industry and Commerce conference in June.
Mr Myrie joined the BBC in 1987 as a trainee reporter for local radio and has become one of the BBC’s most visible stars.
He is a regular face in news bulletins and presented the BBC election night broadcast together with journalist Laura Kuenssberg in July.
A source said Mr Myrie had been “very foolish” not to list the company’s actions, saying: “Whatever sins of greed or pride they commit, reveal them and you will be forgiven.”
They added that there was ‘quite a bit of bitterness’ over the issue, which they said was further evidence that star anchors ‘are not the deities the BBC has built them up to be’.
