BBC calling President Zelensky *Mr*Zelensky

There's another programme on Radio 4, the long running Moral Maze, that has undertaken many really, really thorny questions with admirable neutrality. It works by assembling a panel with very different POV to give their "evidence" but doesn't proffer a "conclusion" but leaves it up to us. And yes, its covered gender issues and talking to terrorists.

pascal30

Thank goodness for the BBC.. you can very rarely fault Newsnight, Question time or PM on radio 4.. for their wonderful presenters..

I agree but in this instance they got it wrong.

AGAA4

pascal30

Thank goodness for the BBC.. you can very rarely fault Newsnight, Question time or PM on radio 4.. for their wonderful presenters..

I agree but in this instance they got it wrong.

Agree. Courtesy titles should be applied equally. I remember a locum dentist introducing himself as Mr X and calling me Doodle. The Health Visitor who came when my children were babies did the same. I put them both right. We are either on first name terms or we aren't - either way is fine by me, but it is one or the other. So, Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky, or they are both 'President'. That's pretty basic manners IMO.

I am struggling to imagine BBC presenters and reporters saying President Putin and Mr Trump in the same sentence of President Trump and Mr Macron in the same sentence.

Yes it is on Newswatch at 7.50am every Saturday Bbc1.

Does Eddie Izzard have XX chromosomes or XY .
That should solve the problem.

BBC need putting out of my misery! Have become very annoyed with them over the years with their self righteous attitude! Do not like being preached at & would be glad if BBC disappeared right now!

The irony about worrying about the accuracy of zelenskys title whilst nodding along to them calling Eddie a woman is delicious.

How are they "preachy?" Just go to todays I player page and tell me just one thing that is "preachy?"

www.bbc.co.uk/news

Personally I think using the term "girly days when wearing pink is OK for little girls aged around 3 or even slightly older" for a man in his 60s nah! What next "Princess pointy toed frou frou days" Parallel universe doesn't even begin to describe it.

What has Eddie Izzard got to do with this?

The discussion is about the BBC disrespecting an elected head of state whose citizens have been fighting a war against a foreign invader for three long years.

Why are people bringing their personal opinions about gender issues into this?

Because it about the accuracy of the bbc. The BBC are deeply unreliable and these are examples of those inaccuracies. I don't understand how you can strive for accuracy and the truth and ignore this.

I don't think Eddie Izzard has anything to do with this discussion. Most on here aren't 'nodding along' to his/her gender issues.
It may be better to start another thread about Eddie Izzard if posters want to discuss him/her.

AGAA4

I don't think Eddie Izzard has anything to do with this discussion. Most on here aren't 'nodding along' to his/her gender issues.
It may be better to start another thread about Eddie Izzard if posters want to discuss him/her.

Eddie Izzard was mentioned on the same BBC’s News Watch programme this morning, as a presenter had to apologise for calling him a man.

Because I am sorry to say this but why would we join you in your concerns about accuracy if you will nod along to that. I think you will say anything, up is down, the world is flat, etc, etc. I am not going to join you in a moral stand against inaccuracy because I don't trust 'you' to recognise what that is.

GG13 Eddie Izzard is a man. Zelensky is a President and shouldn't be addressed as Mr.
The first was an understandable mistake. The second was bias.

AGAA4

GG13 Eddie Izzard is a man. Zelensky is a President and shouldn't be addressed as Mr.
The first was an understandable mistake. The second was bias.

I think it was a deliberate attempt to belittle President Zelenskyy by not addressing him by his title .

It is also in my opinion just as rude to say Zelensky without using President as you have done in your post.

Eddie Izzard is definitely a man.

It is not rude or biased if I also say Trump in the same sentence. You are nitpicking.l

Silverbrooks

What has Eddie Izzard got to do with this?

The discussion is about the BBC disrespecting an elected head of state whose citizens have been fighting a war against a foreign invader for three long years.

Why are people bringing their personal opinions about gender issues into this?

It's less about 'gender' issues than about the fact that men belong to the male sex. 'Gender' exists in the mind. Sex is a biological thing, and pretending males are female is dangerous to women.

So you also.think I should have said President Zelensky is a president. My English teacher would sigh.

AGAA4

So you also.think I should have said President Zelensky is a president. My English teacher would sigh.

For GG13

I think it is fine to say Zelensky or Trump (after their titles have been used) but the form of address should apply equally to both. 'President', 'Mr', 'Donald/Volodymyr' - whatever - but not mix and match.

Sallyforth

Going into any negotiations you go in on equal terms, and that terminology makes President Zelenskyy appear less significant than the other two.

I thought it was a huge mistake that President Zelenskyy went into the White House meeting alone. Trump had his side kick there and Zelenskyy should have had a deputy or an aide beside him. The savage treatment might not have been so devastating had another key person representing the Ukraine been present.

Always equal numbers, and equal in seniority.

I agree with you, it could have made a difference.A translater would have been advisable too, giving Zelensky time to think about replies and it would have made the things said to him by Trump Vance and the nitwit burbling about suits look small.

Doodledog

Silverbrooks

What has Eddie Izzard got to do with this?

The discussion is about the BBC disrespecting an elected head of state whose citizens have been fighting a war against a foreign invader for three long years.

Why are people bringing their personal opinions about gender issues into this?

It's less about 'gender' issues than about the fact that men belong to the male sex. 'Gender' exists in the mind. Sex is a biological thing, and pretending males are female is dangerous to women.

Exactly👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

AGAA4

I don't think Eddie Izzard has anything to do with this discussion. Most on here aren't 'nodding along' to his/her gender issues.
It may be better to start another thread about Eddie Izzard if posters want to discuss him/her.

Suzy Eddie Izzard identifies as a woman and the BBC presenter should have identified her as such . It’s easy to check on line . It’s disrespectful otherwise.