GMB Hit with Ofcom Complaints After Major Holocaust Blunder

London, Jan 31, 2025 — ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” has come under fire after receiving 77 Ofcom complaints for failing to specifically mention Jewish victims during its Holocaust Memorial Day coverage. The oversight occurred during a live segment presented by Ranvir Singh on Monday, leading to significant backlash from the community and advocacy groups.

During the live broadcast, Ranvir Singh addressed the atrocities of World War II, stating: “Six million people were killed in concentration camps during the Second World War, as well as millions of others because they were Polish, disabled, gay, or belonged to another ethnic group.” However, the omission of the word “Jews” was immediately noticed and criticized, sparking outrage among viewers and organizations fighting against antisemitism, reported by the Express.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism voiced strong disapproval of the coverage, emphasizing the critical importance of acknowledging the specific targeting of Jews during the Holocaust. A spokesperson for the campaign remarked, “Jews. The word you’re looking for is ‘Jews’, not ‘people’. This truly beggars belief. This dire reporting is not only factually incorrect but erases Jews from a genocide in which six million Jewish men, women and children were slaughtered specifically because they were Jews.”

Ofcom has confirmed receipt of the 77 complaints, highlighting the severity of the oversight. The regulatory body oversees broadcasting standards in the UK and takes such complaints seriously, especially when they pertain to sensitive historical events and the accurate representation of affected communities.

In response to the backlash, “Good Morning Britain” issued an apology on Tuesday, January 28. Ranvir Singh addressed the error during the program, stating: “In yesterday’s news when we reported on the memorial events in Auschwitz, we said six million people were killed in the Holocaust, but crucially failed to say they were Jewish. That was our mistake, for which we apologize”, according to the Mirror.

A spokesperson for GMB further elaborated, saying, “In our studio introduction to the report on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz we failed to acknowledge the Jewish community which we have since apologised for live on air in today’s programme.” The spokesperson assured viewers that the omission was unintentional and that subsequent segments of the program did include explicit references to Jewish victims.

Despite the initial oversight, the program continued to address the Holocaust with appropriate recognition. The correspondent news report from Auschwitz immediately followed the introduction, explicitly mentioning Jewish victims. Additionally, the extended programme included an interview with Rachel Levy, an Auschwitz survivor, alongside Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Trust. Both speakers spoke candidly about their experiences as Jewish individuals during the Holocaust.

The incident underscores the importance of precise language and acknowledgment in reporting historical atrocities. Accurate representation is crucial in ensuring that the specific suffering of targeted groups, such as the Jewish community during the Holocaust, is not diminished or overlooked.

Ofcom will review the complaints and determine whether further action is necessary to address the broadcaster’s oversight. Meanwhile, advocacy groups continue to stress the need for heightened sensitivity and accuracy in media coverage of historical events to honor the memory of those who suffered and to educate future generations.

As “Good Morning Britain” navigates the aftermath of the incident, the network faces the challenge of restoring trust with its audience by ensuring meticulous attention to detail in future broadcasts, particularly when dealing with topics of such profound historical significance.