BBC presenter scandal: Police to crackdown on ‘malicious communications’ falsely accusing Nicky Campbell, Jeremi Vine

Scotland Yard has vowed to crack down on “malicious communications” on social media that falsely accuse BBC presenters like Nicky Campbell, and Jeremi Vine of being the suspended star who recently came under fire for sexual misconduct.

The name of the BBC presenter, who was suspended after allegedly paying a teenager more than $44,000 for sexually explicit photos, has not been revealed yet. And yet, some “malicious communications” on social media continue to besmirch the names of top presenters of the broadcaster, including Nicky Campbell and Jeremi Vine by falsely accusing them.

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Both Campbell and Vine have denied being the presenter who has been accused of sexual misconduct. “I think it’s important to take a stand. There are just too many of these people on social media. Thanks for your support friends,” he tweeted on the day the scandal broke.

However, he has continued to be targeted by trolls on the internet. He said that he had a “distressing weekend” due to being incorrectly pointed a finger at. He has been in contact with the police and has also gotten in touch with lawyers in case he wants to sue for defamation over tweets or Facebook posts which falsely continue to accuse him as the suspect.

Vine – who hosts a show on BBC Radio 2 – said, “It certainly ain’t me,” distancing himself from the narrative. “Just to say I’m very much looking forward to hosting my radio show on Monday — whoever the ‘BBC Presenter’ in the news is, I have the same message for you as Rylan did earlier: it certainly ain’t me,” he said.

Also Read | Who is BBC presenter Nicky Campbell?

Gary Lineker has also publicly denied being the man accused, tweeting this evening: “Hate to disappoint the haters but it’s not me.”

The Metropolitan Police released a statement saying, “On Saturday, July 8, police received a report of malicious communications in relation to a post on social media. An investigation is underway and inquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests.”

Campbell introduced his BBC Radio 5 Live show on Monday with a statement on the scandal. “Obviously thoughts with the alleged victim and family. So a bit of perspective here, worse things happen at sea as they say, but it was a distressing weekend, I can’t deny it, for me and others falsely named. Today I am having further conversations with the police in terms of malicious communications and with lawyers in terms of defamation.”