A closer look at “BBC Pays Substantial Damages to PinkNews Founders Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James Over Fa”, exactly as the source publishes it. The BBC has apologised and paid substantial compensation to Benjamin Cohen and Anthony James, the couple behind LGBTQ+ news outlet PinkNews, after admitting that allegations of sexual misconduct made in a 2024 iPlayer documentary were false and defamatory. The documentary, PinkNews: Behind Closed Doors, contained what the broadcaster conceded in the High Court were 'a series of very serious, false, and defamatory allegations' against the pair.
Cohen, who founded PinkNews, and his husband James had brought legal action over the claims, which they said caused significant harm to their reputations and personal lives. The settlement marks a rare public admission by the BBC of defamation, underscoring the legal and editorial risks of investigative documentaries. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.