Martin Bashir: Difference between revisions
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After Jackson's death in 2009, Dieter Wiesner, the pop star's manager from 1996 to 2003, said of Jackson's response to Bashir's documentary: |
After Jackson's death in 2009, Dieter Wiesner, the pop star's manager from 1996 to 2003, said of Jackson's response to Bashir's documentary: |
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{{cquote|It broke him. It killed him. He took a long time to die, but it started that night. Previously the drugs were a crutch, but after that they became a necessity.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5704635/Former-manager-unveils-scale-of-Michael-Jacksons-drug-use.html |title=Former manager unveils scale of Michael Jackson's drug use |access-date=12 November 2020|date=1 July 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}} <!-- Article published on a Wednesday. --></ref>}} |
{{cquote|It broke him. It killed him. He took a long time to die, but it started that night. Previously the drugs were a crutch, but after that they became a necessity.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234309/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5704635/Former-manager-unveils-scale-of-Michael-Jacksons-drug-use.html |title=Former manager unveils scale of Michael Jackson's drug use |access-date=12 November 2020|date=1 July 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}} <!-- Article published on a Wednesday. --></ref> |
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Bashir later said during ABC's coverage of Jackson's death: |
Bashir later said during ABC's coverage of Jackson's death: |
Revision as of 10:22, 4 February 2021
Martin Bashir | |
---|---|
![]() Bashir in May 2007 | |
Born | Wandsworth, London, England | 19 January 1963
Alma mater | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1986–present |
Notable credit(s) | Living with Michael Jackson and interview with Diana, Princess of Wales |
Spouse | Deborah Bashir |
Children | 3 |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments |
|
Martin Henry Bashir (born 19 January 1963) is a British journalist and news anchor. He came to prominence on British television with his BBC interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, and then his fly-on-the-wall documentary with pop singer Michael Jackson on ITV. On 4 December 2013, Bashir resigned from his position at MSNBC after he made comments described as "ill-judged" about the former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.[1][2][3]
Bashir worked for the BBC from 1986 until 1999 on programmes including Panorama and then joined ITV. Bashir was an anchor for ABC's Nightline, a political commentator for MSNBC, hosting Martin Bashir,[4] and a correspondent for NBC's Dateline NBC. Bashir was appointed as BBC News religious affairs correspondent in September 2016.[5]
The Panorama interview Bashir conducted with the Princess of Wales in 1995, led the BBC's director general Tim Davie in late 2020 to apologise to the brother of the princess, Earl Spencer, for Bashir's use of faked bank statements used to gain the interview with his sister.[6] Former Supreme Court judge John Dyson, Lord Dyson is to head an independent inquiry into the issue.[7][8]
Early life and career
Bashir was born and raised in Wandsworth, London, to liberal Muslim parents from Pakistan. His father served in the Royal Navy during World War II. [9][10] He was educated at the boys' state comprehensive Wandsworth School, King Alfred's College of Higher Education, Winchester, studying English and History from 1982–1985 (at the time degrees at King Alfred's were approved by the University of Southampton), and at King's College London, where he completed a master's degree.
Bashir was one of five children, one of whom suffered from muscular dystrophy and died in 1991.[10] Bashir dedicated his decisions in life to his late brother, including his appearance on Celebrity X Factor. Bashir said in 2019, "Every time I have faced a challenge I have heard him whispering saying, 'What excuse do you have? You have no excuse.'"[11]
He started to work as a journalist as a freelance sports journalist before joining the BBC in 1986.[10] He worked for the BBC until 1999, on programmes including Songs of Praise, Public Eye and Panorama.
Bashir came to prominence in 1995 when he interviewed Diana, Princess of Wales. He joined ITV, working on special documentary programmes and features for Tonight with Trevor McDonald.
Interviews
Princess of Wales interview
In November 1995, Bashir interviewed Diana, Princess of Wales about her failed marriage to the Prince of Wales for the BBC's Panorama programme.[12][13] The programme was watched by nearly 23 million viewers in the UK.[14] At the time, the BBC hailed it as the scoop of a generation.[15][16]
In November 2020, 25 years later, the BBC director general Tim Davie apologised to Earl Spencer, the brother of the princess, for the use of fake bank statements falsely indicating people close to her had been paid for spying.[6][16] The fake bank statements had been created by one of the corporation's freelance graphic designers, Matt Wiessler. However a 1996 internal BBC investigation concluded that the fake documents were not used to secure the interview and cleared Bashir of any wrongdoing. The inquiry, following a Mail on Sunday account of the falsified documents,[17] was headed by Tony Hall, who later became BBC director-general and was succeeded by Tim Davie in 2020. Hall acknowledged having never interviewed Matt Wiessler for the 1996 internal inquiry.[18] Wiessler said in 2020 that work dried up for him after the 1996 inquiry cleared Bashir, and said he had been made the scapegoat.[19]
Earl Spencer, another individual who was not interviewed in 1996, rejected the apology and demanded an inquiry.[20] Spencer told Davie he possessed records of all his contacts with Bashir which apparently imply the journalist told the princess false information to gain her trust.[6] He said that Bashir had made false and defamatory claims about senior members of the royal family and, without the faked documents, would not have introduced Bashir to his sister. Davie announced on 9 November the corporation was in the process of commissioning an independent inquiry.[21] Michael Grade, a former chairman of the BBC, said that the allegations left "a very dark cloud hanging over BBC journalism".[16][21]
At the time of the revelations about his interview with the princess Bashir was seriously ill from the after effects of COVID-19 and was recuperating after undergoing quadruple heart bypass surgery. He has not responded to enquires.[19] The BBC has said Bashir's ill health has impaired its ability to investigate the controversy any further until his recovery.[22] The Daily Mirror published a photo of Bashir taken on 6 November with the headline "Martin Bashir visits takeaway after BBC says he's 'too ill' to respond to Princess Diana claims".[23]
On 13 November 2020, it was reported that the BBC had found the note from the Princess of Wales which cleared Bashir of pressuring her to give the interview.[24] The former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond wrote in The Sunday Times the princess told Bond she did not regret the broadcast in a private meeting in late 1996. Diana said she feared a gagging order in her imminent divorce settlement, meaning it might be her only chance to give an interview.[25]
On 18 November 2020, the BBC announced an independent investigation into how the interview was obtained, to be headed by former Supreme Court judge John Dyson.[7][8]
Michael Jackson interviews
In 2003, Bashir conducted a series of interviews with American singer Michael Jackson, for an ITV documentary Living with Michael Jackson, part of the Tonight with Trevor McDonald series for ITV, which Jackson's friend, Uri Geller, arranged. Bashir followed the singer for eight months.[26]
However Bashir's colleagues have claimed that the then ITV interviewer, only landed the Jackson interview after promising him they would plan a trip for Jackson to Africa to visit children with AIDS, accompanied by Kofi Annan, the then UN Secretary-General: when this was put to Bashir, while under oath, in a California court, he refused to answer.[27] Following the broadcast, viewed by 14 million in the UK and 38 million in the US, Jackson complained to the Independent Television Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Commission, accusing Bashir of yellow journalism. In response, Jackson and his personal cameraman released a rebuttal interview, which showed Bashir complimenting Jackson for the "spiritual" quality of the Neverland Ranch.
After Jackson's death in 2009, Dieter Wiesner, the pop star's manager from 1996 to 2003, said of Jackson's response to Bashir's documentary:
It broke him. It killed him. He took a long time to die, but it started that night. Previously the drugs were a crutch, but after that they became a necessity.[28]
Bashir later said during ABC's coverage of Jackson's death:
I think it's worth remembering he was probably, singly, the greatest dancer and musician the world has ever seen. Certainly, when I made the documentary, there was a small part of that which contained a controversy concerning his relationship with other young people. But the truth is that he was never convicted of any crime, I never saw any wrongdoing myself and whilst his lifestyle may have been a bit unorthodox, I don't believe it was criminal and I think the world has now lost the greatest entertainer it's probably ever known.[29]
Other interviews and programmes
Bashir has conducted interviews with, among others, Louise Woodward, the five suspects in the Stephen Lawrence case, Michael Barrymore, Jeffrey Archer, and Joanne Lees.[30]
In 2003, Bashir presented a documentary titled Major Fraud detailing the story of British Army major Charles Ingram who attempted to cheat his way to the prize money in an unbroadcast episode of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?.[31] The original programme featuring Ingram, recorded in September 2001, was withheld from broadcast because the production team quickly became suspicious.[32] The documentary had a larger audience than Bashir's interview with Michael Jackson.[33]
Later career
Bashir was employed by ABC and co-anchored their current affairs show Nightline. Along with Cynthia McFadden and Terry Moran, he took over Nightline from Ted Koppel in 2005.
In August 2010, Bashir left ABC for MSNBC where he served as a political commentator until 4 December 2013, as well as an occasional substitute host for Lawrence O'Donnell.[4]
Juju Chang comments and suspension at ABC News
In 2008, while working as a reporter for Nightline, Bashir was suspended from ABC News after making remarks described as "crude and sexist" during a dinner speech at the Asian American Journalists Association convention in Chicago.[1][34] During the speech, he stated, "I'm happy to be in the midst of so many Asian babes. I'm happy that the podium covers me from the waist down."[34] He continued and said that a speech should be "like a dress on a beautiful woman – long enough to cover the important parts and short enough to keep your interest – like my colleague Juju's,"[34] referring to Bashir's ABC News colleague Juju Chang, a reporter for 20/20.[34] ABC News suspended him.[34] He wrote an apology to the journalist association which stated, "Upon reflection, it was a tasteless remark that I now bitterly regret. I … hope that the continuing work of the organization will not be harmed or undermined by my moment of stupidity."[34]
Sarah Palin comments and resignation from MSNBC
On 15 November 2013, Bashir criticised Sarah Palin for comments that she made comparing the Federal debt to slavery.[35] Bashir attempted to counter Palin's comparison by referencing the punishment of slaves described by slave overseer Thomas Thistlewood, specifically a punishment called "Derby's dose" which involved forcing slaves to defecate or urinate into the mouth of another slave as punishment. Bashir then concluded by saying "if anyone truly qualified for a dose of discipline from Thomas Thistlewood, she would be the outstanding candidate."[36][37]
Bashir apologised on 18 November, stating among other things: "My words were wholly unacceptable. They were neither accurate, nor fair. They were unworthy of anyone who would claim to have an interest in politics."[37][38] On 2 December, Bashir was suspended by the network and then resigned two days later.[2][37][39][40] He issued a statement upon his resignation that said, "I deeply regret what was said, will endeavor to work hard at making constructive contributions in the future and will always have a deep appreciation for our viewers."[2][41]
Other activities
It was announced in September 2016 that Bashir was returning to the BBC as religious affairs correspondent from the following month, succeeding Caroline Wyatt in the post.[42][43]
Bashir had a role as himself in the 2001 satirical comedy film Mike Bassett: England Manager.[citation needed]
Bashir plays the bass guitar.[44] He released a reggae album, Bass Lion, on 26 October 2010.[45] In October 2019, he began competing in The X Factor: Celebrity.[46]
Personal life
Bashir is fluent in English and Urdu.[10] He identifies as a committed Christian, having been interested in Christianity as a child,[26] and has occasionally been seen visiting Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York.[47][48] He and his wife have three children. In 2008, Bashir reported he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour affecting his pituitary gland that did not require surgery.[49]
Bashir and producer Mike Robinson were the recipients of the BAFTA Award for Best Talk Show at the 1996 British Academy Television Awards for their work on the interview with Diana for Panorama.[50] Bashir also won the Factual or Science Based Programme of the Year from the Television and Radio Industries Club, TV Journalist of the Year from the Broadcasting Press Guild, and Journalist of the Year from the Royal Television Society for the Diana interview.[51][52][53]
References
- ^ a b Carter, Bill. "Martin Bashir Resigns From MSNBC Over Palin Comments", The New York Times, 4 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Christopher, Tommy. Martin Bashir Resigns From MSNBC, Mediaite, 4 December 2013.
- ^ "Princess Diana made him, Sarah Palin destroyed him: the rise and fall". The Independent. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Nightline's Martin Bashir Headed to MSNBC, Dateline". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Martin Bashir appointed BBC religious affairs correspondent". BBC News. 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Urwin, Rosamund (1 November 2020). "BBC says sorry to Diana's brother Earl Spencer for interview 'deceit'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
Spencer is understood to have told Davie that he has records of all his meetings and conversations with Bashir. These are alleged to show that Bashir told Diana fantastical stories to win her trust and that he used the fake bank statements to garner his first meeting with her.
(subscription required) - ^ a b Waterson, Jim (19 November 2020). "Prince William welcomes BBC's investigation into Diana interview". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ a b "BBC announces investigation into 1995 Diana interview". RTE. AFP. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ Ling, Thomas; Bashir, Martin. "BBC's religion editor Martin Bashir: Why Christianity is still relevant this Easter".
My parents came to Britain from Pakistan in 1951, my father having served with the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War. They would describe themselves as liberal Muslims, firmly embracing of British culture, and did not insist upon attendance at a mosque beyond my tenth birthday.
- ^ a b c d Allen-Mills, Tony; Hellen, Nicholas (8 November 2020). "Martin Bashir, Diana's interviewer, was elusive, contradictory and a target of hostility". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 12 November 2020. (subscription required)
- ^ Jeffries, Mark. "Martin Bashir on heartbreaking death that made him do Celebrity X Factor". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Transcript of the BBC1 Panorama interview with the Princess of Wales". Great Interviews of the 20th century. The Guardian. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- ^ "Neophyte reporter makes journalistic coup". Manila Standard. 18 November 1995. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- ^ "Princess Diana's brother demands BBC inquiry over Panorama interview". BBC News. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ Davies, Caroline (3 November 2020). "Why is Princess Diana's Panorama interview back in the news?". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b c Kwai, Isabella (11 November 2020). "BBC Orders Inquiry Into Diana Interview After Claim Princess Was Misled". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Tobitt, Charlotte (11 November 2020). "Mail on Sunday journalists who exposed Martin Bashir Diana fakery 24 years ago say story was ignored". Press Gazette. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (10 November 2020). "BBC Investigating Explosive 1995 Princess Diana Interview as Scandal Blows Up". Variety. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Princess Diana interview: Designer Matt Wiessler 'angry' at BBC treatment". BBC News. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Waterson, Jim (4 November 2020). "Diana's brother demands inquiry over 'deceit' that led to BBC interview". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Princess Diana interview: 'Dark cloud over BBC journalism' says Lord Grade". BBC News. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Parveen, Nazia; Waterson, Jim (3 November 2020). "Martin Bashir to face questions over Diana interview when he recovers from Covid". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Needham, Lucy; Pike, Molly (9 November 2020). "Martin Bashir visits takeaway amid claims he's 'too ill' to reply on Diana claim". Daily Mirror.
- ^ Waterson, Jim (13 November 2020). "BBC finds Princess Diana's lost note that it says clears Martin Bashir". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ Bond, Jennie (15 November 2020). "Jennie Bond on Princess Diana: just between us and these four walls, she bared her soul to me first". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 15 November 2020. (subscription required)
- ^ a b Wells, Matt (22 January 2003). "Talk to me". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Heffer, Simon (10 November 2020). "Martin Bashir's dirty tricks were an open secret – yet the BBC tolerated them". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Former manager unveils scale of Michael Jackson's drug use". The Daily Telegraph. London. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ ABC News (25 June 2009). "Bashir: The Greatest Entertainer Has Died". Retrieved 26 March 2018 – via YouTube.
- ^ Minelle, Bethany (10 November 2020). "Who is Martin Bashir? The BBC journalist at the heart of the Princess Diana interview scandal". Sky News. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Milmo, Cahal (22 April 2003). "'Millionaire' quiz company to make film of fraud case". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Rosseinsky, Katie (14 April 2020). "What happened to Charles Ingram's infamous Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? episode?". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Wells, Matt (23 April 2003). "Millions tune in to fraud show". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Kurtz, Howard (5 December 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Martin Bashir, out at MSNBC over Palin slur, was previously suspended". FOX News. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ^ "MSNBC not commenting on whether further action contemplated against Bashir", Associated Press via Washington Post (19 November 2013).
- ^ Williams, Rob (18 November 2013). "Martin Bashir says Sarah Palin is an 'idiot' and suggests someone should defecate in her mouth". The Independent.
- ^ a b c Byers, Dylan. MSNBC's Martin Bashir 'on vacation' after Sarah Palin remarks, Politico, 2 December 2013.
- ^ Coscarelli, Joe. "MSNBC Host Sorry for Saying Disgusting Thing About Sarah Palin's Mouth", New York (18 November 2013).
- ^ Airens, Chris (4 December 2013). "Martin Bashir Out at MSNBC". TVNewser. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ^ Kurtz, Howard. Martin Bashir quits at MSNBC over Palin slur, FOX News, 4 December 2013.
- ^ Ross, Robyn (3 December 2013). "Martin Bashir Resigns from MSNBC After Sarah Palin Scandal". SeattlePI.Com/TV Guide. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
- ^ Mayhew, Freddy (26 September 2016). "Martin Bashir returns to BBC News as religious affairs correspondent". Press Gazette. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "BBC - Martin Bashir appointed BBC's Religious Affairs Correspondent - Media Centre". BBC Media Center. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Martin Bashir". NBC Universal. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ Salisbury, Vanita (15 February 2012). "Martin Bashir Can't Stand the Cost of Cat Boarding". New York. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ^ Duke, Simon (12 October 2019). "When is X Factor: Celebrity on? ITV show returns with star lineup". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
- ^ "25th Anniversary weekend". Redeemer Presbyterian Church website. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ Merritt, Jonathan (13 August 2014). "How American Christians can stop being bullies and start winning converts". The Week. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ Davis, Rob (7 June 2008). "Martin Bashir suffering from brain tumour". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "BAFTA Television: Talk Show in 1996". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Martin Bashir TRIC Awards". Alamy. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "BPG TV & Radio Awards 1996". Broadcasting Press Guild. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ J. Randy Taraborrelli (2 July 2009). Michael Jackson: The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story. Pan Macmillan. pp. 484–. ISBN 978-0-330-51415-6.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Preceded by Ted Koppel |
Nightline anchor 28 November 2005 – 6 August 2010 With Terry Moran and Cynthia McFadden |
Succeeded by Bill Weir With Terry Moran and Cynthia McFadden |
- 1963 births
- Living people
- ABC News personalities
- Alumni of King's College London
- Alumni of the University of Winchester
- BAFTA winners (people)
- BBC newsreaders and journalists
- British journalists of Pakistani descent
- English Christians
- English bass guitarists
- English expatriates in the United States
- English people of Pakistani descent
- English reggae musicians
- English reporters and correspondents
- English television journalists
- ITN newsreaders and journalists
- MSNBC people
- Panorama (British TV programme)
- People from Wandsworth
- Religion journalists