Following the election of Donald Trump, there has been widespread condemnation of mainstream media platforms for their appeasement of or failure to condemn fascist elements in the United States.
Similarly, the growth of far right elements in the UK – and the rise of racist and xenophobic attacks – has been attributed in part to the platform provided to garden variety racists, under the pretext of balance.
https://twitter.com/opaIlynch/status/747569268783448064
I am sick of seeing unchallenged racist and xenophobic vox pops on TV. It should stop
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) June 27, 2016
So you can understand the reaction to the announcement that the BBC’s Marr Show is set to welcome Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s far-right Front National, as a guest this weekend.
Le Pen was found not guilty of inciting religious hatred after comparing Muslims praying on the street to the Nazi occupation of France, while she has also called for bans on religious dress in public places and called the burkini a “fundamentalist uniform”.
The 48-year-old politician has embraced the US election result, seeing it as a potential precursor for the Front National’s election in France, and has been invited onto this weekend’s Marr Show.
Brexit, Trump, Le Pen? Sunday on #marr an exclusive interview with Marine Le Pen on why she thinks she can do a Donald and win. BBC1 9am.
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
However, following the announcement from editor Rob Burley, people have been quick to speak out against the BBC for what is seen by many to be a legitimisation of fascism.
https://twitter.com/janhopis/status/796662997611638784
https://twitter.com/RyanHoulihan/status/796665798102319104
https://twitter.com/huwlemmey/status/796663726262906880
STOP GIVING PLATFORMS TO FASCISM.
— Ffranclin Cwil (@ShartiTheClown) November 10, 2016
FFS how much airtime are you planning to give all these proto-facists? It's not like Marr can even grill them like @afneil
— MancunianIan (@Ian_in_Mcr) November 10, 2016
https://twitter.com/saharaguts/status/796654331877556224
https://twitter.com/bronzetrex/status/796666160779497472
https://twitter.com/watermelon5ugar/status/796671841108627456
https://twitter.com/rey_z/status/796672178741772288
Burley has since defended the move in a series of tweets, noting that Le Pen is ‘a serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views’.
1)Marine Le Pen is a controversial booking. But she is a serious contender for the French Presidency whatever you think of her views. . .
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
2) Her party's support – 6m in 2015 elections, 6m in the last Presidential Election and her ratings ahead of 2017 election significant. .
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
3) In French politics she is "normalised" by public support. We either treat her seriously or censor her.
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
4) The shocks to conventional wisdom of the Referendum result & Donald Trump's election make her victory a possibility if it wasn't already
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
5) Unless a politician is irrelevant (i.e no support or representation) or expresses views that are illegal. . . .
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
6) It is our job to hold them to account and allow viewers to understand what they think. Our views about them are irrelevant.
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
7) If you're unhappy about Marine Le Pen's electoral success fair enough, but that success – and Trump's shock win – justify this interview
— Rob Burley (@RobBurl) November 10, 2016
