A Sun reporter has been accused of sneaking into the hospital under false pretenses to interview victim of the Grenfell Tower fire, the Guardian reported. The Grenfell Tower fire killed at least 30 people and sent dozens to the hospital.
A spokesperson for King’s College Hospital, one of the hospitals treating victims, told iMediaEthics by e-mail it has complained to the Sun, but didn’t confirm the details, stating, “Following an incident at King’s College Hospital, we have formally written to The Sun and will be informing the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). We are unable to comment on the specifics until our complaint has been investigated.” iMediaEthics has written to the hospital to ask if the victim complained to the hospital.
iMediaEthics wrote to The Sun to ask about the allegations but didn’t hear back.
In a statement on Twitter, The Sun denied impersonating a family member. Their excuse was that they interviewed the victim by phone and when they went to the hospital to do a follow-up in-person interview, they were rejected and left the hospital.
The newspaper’s statement continues, “The Sun wants to make it clear that no reporter has ‘impersonated’ any family members.” Further, the newspaper denies “any accusation that our employees acted inappropriately.” The statement is printed below in full.
IPSO hasn’t received any complaint from the hospital yet, but expects to, given the hospital’s public comments, an IPSO spokesperson told iMediaEthics by e-mail. iMediaEthics has asked the King’s College Hospital spokesperson when they plan to complain.