Troubling news out of the UK: journalist Martin Bashir has come under fire following a new report by the BBC network. The report’s findings state that Bashir “deceived and induced” the late Princess Diana by producing fake bank statements to convince her to sit down for a notorious 1995 interview.
Sky News reports that Bashir made a “serious breach” of journalistic ethics in providing the fake statements, which suggested the Royal Family had paid members of Diana’s inner circle to spy on her. Bashir provided those statements both to Princess Diana and her brother Earl Spencer in order to convince them to take part in the interview. The same report also states Bashir concocted fake stories about the Royal Family–including that the family had Diana followed–in order to pressure the late Princess of Wales to take part.
Related: Did Princess Diana’s butler have a gay sex party aboard royal yacht?
Bashir, for his part, stands by the interview. “This is the second time that I have willingly fully co-operated with an investigation into events more than 25 years ago,” he said in a statement following the release of the report. “I apologized then, and I do so again now, over the fact that I asked for bank statements to be mocked up. It was a stupid thing to do and was an action I deeply regret. But I absolutely stand by the evidence I gave a quarter of a century ago, and again more recently. I also reiterate that the bank statements had no bearing whatsoever on the personal choice by Princess Diana to take part in the interview.”
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The interview in question set off an international sensation for Diana’s candid discussion about her marriage to Prince Charles and the conduct of the Royal Family. She discussed her struggles with postpartum depression and bulimia in the interview, as well as the intense pressure of becoming a state figurehead, claiming at one point that Charles threatened to have her “put in a home” over her mental health.
Princess Diana also–perhaps most famously–confirmed Charles’ longtime affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles, saying “there were three of us in this marriage.”
The interview itself was watched by 23 million viewers in the UK, or, at the time, roughly 39.3% of the population. Bashir would go on to win BAFTA Award for Best Talk Show as well as several other “Journalist of the Year” Awards from different outlets.
The 1995 interview with Princess Diana was not the last time Martin Bashir would face questions over his journalistic integrity. In 2003, his documentary Living with Michael Jackson would also ignite a media firestorm, as it featured the singer boasting about sharing a bed and having intimate relationships with young boys. Bashir’s methods of securing the interview also came under scrutiny, as he allegedly promised Jackson a trip to Africa to visit children with AIDS in exchange. When questioned about his methods regarding the Jackson interview in a California court, Bashir notoriously refused to answer.
Fahd
Yes, Bashir committed some “ethical infractions” in dishonestly persuading Diana that it was in her interest to talk to him. He should have more consequences.
How things have evolved: Diana was “deceived” into giving an interview. Her son, Harry, seems eager to spill the beans whenever – I feel sure that Oprah did not “deceive” him.
Diana-RIP- never seemed motivated by the profit motive. I can’t say the same for the married Harry.
Heywood Jablowme
I’m sure Queerty would never run a story with absolutely NO gay or LGBTQ angle whatsoever. That would never happen. So, here, it must be that Diana visited AIDS patients? (they weren’t all gay, you know.) Bashir also interviewed Michael Jackson? Diana met Kevin Bacon once, so six degrees etc.? Diana had a gay butler? Oh, that must be it – Diana had a gay butler?
bsg1967
Seriously how old are you? There’s a thing called Google look up princess Diana AIDS learn what this woman did for our community when very few would.
KyleMichelSullivan
I cannot believe the comment you made. Are you really that ill-informed? That hateful? That shameful?
Cam
It’s cute when the troll gets so enraged that it tries to find any excuse to post.
Heywood Jablowme
Funny how Cam thinks everybody is “enraged” all the time. Projection.
Heywood Jablowme
So the LGBT connection is the AIDS patients? That’s it? I’m poz and that seems pretty tenuous to me. Well, okay then!
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
Funny how no matter what screename you’re under you keep using the same lines.
We get it precious. You’re here to troll, I’m just saying, be better at it.
Heywood Jablowme
I don’t use other screen names on Queerty. Anyone who is genuinely concerned about trolls with multiple accounts can urge Queerty (as I have) to check IP addresses and ban anyone doing that. There’s obviously a reason why Cam doesn’t want to do that.
Cam
@Heywood Jablowme
Awwww, the troll account tried to pretend I didn’t want something to be done. Sweetie, as I tell you under all of your screenames, your troll game is old and tired.
cuteguy
This only makes Prince Harry and Meghan all the more credible bc they helped expose the ridiculous British press. Now if we can only abolish Fox News
KyleMichelSullivan
Oh, totally…
Me2
Bashir has never had any integrity. I’m sure he has more burried bones. He’s about as credible as a tabloid. I hope the public cancels him.