The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has apologized to President Donald Trump following the controversy over the controversial editing of his speech in a documentary program, but has firmly refused to pay the demanded $1 billion in compensation.
The crisis escalated after President Trump threatened to file a $1 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over the handling of his speech footage. In their legal response, BBC lawyers confirmed that they have apologized for the editing and provided assurance that the controversial documentary program will not be aired again.
According to media reports, BBC lawyers responded to the letter received from President Trump’s legal team on Sunday, despite the initial deadline set by Trump’s lawyers for 5 PM on Friday.
The controversy has already led to significant turmoil within the British public broadcaster’s leadership, with Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness having already resigned over the matter. The BBC’s decision serves both as an admission of editorial error and a determined refusal to yield to the immense financial pressure of the $1 billion claim.
