UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was laughed at by viewers when he appeared on a BBC program called Question Time: Leaders Special.
But, when the BBC aired a clip the next day in another program, it had cut the laughter out.
The BBC admitted it was a “mistake” to edit the clip that way because it “didn’t reflect the full reaction to Boris Johnson’s answer.”
What was Johnson asked, you might wonder? A member of the audience asked him, “How important is it for someone in your position of power to always tell the truth?” The audience laughed when he responded, “I think it’s absolutely vital,” according to the BBC.
In a statement on its website, the BBC said:
“This clip from the BBC’s Question Time special, which was played out in full on the News at Ten on Friday evening and on other outlets, was shortened for timing reasons on Saturday’s lunchtime bulletin, to edit out a repetitious phrase from Boris Johnson.
“However, in doing so we also edited out laughter from the audience. Although there was absolutely no intention to mislead, we accept this was a mistake on our part, as it didn’t reflect the full reaction to Boris Johnson’s answer.
“We did not alter the soundtrack or image in any way apart from this edit, contrary to some claims on social media.”
iMediaEthics has written to the BBC.
Hat Tip: Press Gazette