Oscar winner receives £400,000 from BBC after dismissal

Lucie Kon, a producer who won an Oscar and an Emmy, has received more than £400,000 from the BBC. The payment resolves unfair dismissal proceedings she brought after leaving the corporation in April. The settlement was funded partly by the license fee, and the BBC did not admit liability. Kon is the first person known to have received a settlement from the broadcaster after alleging antisemitic behavior among colleagues.

Kon’s tenure ended nineteen days after she won the Oscar for her work on the Nova film. Her departure followed a dispute she says began after the October 7 attacks in Israel. In a WhatsApp message to a colleague, she noted that Hamas were evil. The colleague replied that Zionists were evil. Kon described the response as tasteless given the historical moment.

The friction continued as Kon raised concerns about the treatment of Jewish staff. She argued that employees should be able to describe Hamas as committing acts of terror without also labeling Israel a terrorist state. She helped create an internal WhatsApp group for Jewish employees and wrote to then-Director General Tim Davie. When she proposed making a film about October 7, a colleague dismissed the idea, saying the BBC had made enough films about Israel.

Kon’s manager later informed her that the BBC would likely proceed with the Nova film but needed to contextualize why Hamas acted. When Kon questioned the requirement, her manager’s manager stated she could no longer oversee the project because she was Jewish and therefore partial. Kon was told the film would instead be handled by the colleague who had made the earlier comments. Kon could only keep her role if she worked under strict supervision to ensure impartiality.

Kon filed a formal grievance, which was not upheld. The BBC cited concerns about her mental health rather than the reason she was removed from the film. During her appeal, the BBC moved her colleague to a different location. Kon was barred from traveling, commissioning, or speaking for the BBC to avoid conflict. By December, her health declined due to stress. She was placed on sick leave, then told her job was at risk of redundancy. She applied for a new position, was rejected, and was made redundant in April.

A BBC spokesperson said the corporation’s processes did not uphold Kon’s allegations of antisemitism. However, the outcome acknowledged shortcomings and the personal impact on her. The BBC described Kon as a valued member of staff with many years of dedicated service. Kon said she stood up for who she was and lost her job as a result.

Kon told The Telegraph that other Jewish colleagues are still being bullied and abused. She said friends who remain at the BBC feel embarrassed to say they are Zionist or Jewish. Kon noted that the BBC told staff to bring their authentic selves to work, but she lost her job for doing so.