EXCLUSIVE: Senior Muslim figures in the British television industry are planning to boycott the Grierson Awards on Wednesday over the treatment of Asif Kapadia, the Oscar-winning director.
As revealed by Deadline last month, Senna director Kapadia was removed as a patron of the Grierson Trust after just two days following a backlash over his social media posts about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Kapadia later apologized for his social media activity, acknowledging that some of the material he shared was “ill-judged” and likely to be considered “antisemitic.” Posts he shared included a cartoon of Benjamin Netanyahu dining at a blood-stained table in the rubble of Gaza, with the caption “kosher.”
In the weeks following the incident, however, a feeling has grown within UK television’s Muslim and South Asian community that Grierson acted rashly in defenestrating Kapadia.
Senior industry figures have written to Grierson managing director Sylvia Bednarz and chairman Lorraine Heggessey to express their dismay — and to inform the prestigious documentary charity that they will not be attending the awards at London’s Roundhouse this week.
Though some individuals did not condone certain social media posts, including the cartoon, there is a concern that Grierson’s decision has contributed to silencing a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause. Deadline is aware of the identity of the individuals who have written to Grierson, but they have asked to remain anonymous.
The Grierson Trust, which has become an unlikely crucible for industry debate about the Israel-Gaza conflict over the past year, has said Kapadia’s removal was a difficult decision and was only taken after “robust discussion” and due process. The organization said that it supports free speech, but does not tolerate racism of any kind.
In an email seen by Deadline, an executive protesting the Grierson Awards told organizers: “Asif is a huge role model to many of us in the industry and his treatment at this incredibly difficult time for many Muslims in our industry, sends a very chilling message.”
Another boycotting executive added: “I’ve tried to make sense of it all, particularly after reading Asif’s heartfelt apology, but I am left feeling disheartened and deeply troubled.
“Though I’m not privy to the internal discussions, from where I stand, it appears that Asif — a highly respected figure in our industry — has been unfairly pressured into losing recognition for his contributions.”
This person argued that Grierson had been “bullied” into removing Kapadia as a patron, adding that it sent a message that anyone can be “torn down” no matter how “esteemed or contrite” they are about their mistakes.
A third executive said: “History will record that in this most critical time — instead of taking the side of the side of the journalists, doctors, innocent women, men, children and babies who are being butchered by the Israeli apartheid state — Grierson as an organisation chose to side with Israel and its supporters.
“You have as an organisation — by removing Asif Kapadia behind closed doors, with no objective, public oversight and scrutiny of your actions — told everyone that works in the TV industry where Grierson stands.
“It is a tragic day when a major documentary organisation that is all about looking at the world through the lens of truth telling behaves in this way. A very sad day for Palestine and Lebanon. A sad day for anyone who believes in speaking truth to power. And a very sad time to be a British Muslim working in documentary right now.”
An “Incredibly Difficult Decision”
In a letter of response to the third person, Bednarz and Heggessey wrote that Grierson followed its governance processes in removing Kapadia.
They said that he was given the opportunity to respond to the concerns before the board reached the “incredibly difficult decision” that the social media posts broke Grierson’s “zero-tolerance approach to racism of all kinds.” They added that Kapadia did not issue his apology until after Grierson announced it was rescinding his patronage.
“At the time we invited Asif to become a patron of the Trust, we were aware of his strong views about Israel, the conflict in Gaza and his support of the Palestinian people and we fully support his right to express these,” Bednarz and Heggessey wrote.
“Unfortunately after the appointment we became aware that some of the material that Asif had retweeted on X was deeply and unquestionably antisemitic, something which Asif himself has since acknowledged. It is now clear that we had not done thorough enough due diligence and we deeply regret that.”
They continued: “We understand that the Trust’s action has deeply hurt Asif, as well as several of our industry colleagues, and we are truly sorry for this, particularly because in this instance our due diligence process was not robust enough. We can assure you that the decision would have been the same regardless of the background of the individual and regardless of where the racism was directed.”
Grierson’s 17-strong board includes Harjeet Chhokar, an unscripted executive at Amazon MGM Studios; Louisa Compton, Channel 4’s head of news, current affairs, specialist factual and sport; Netflix documentary executive Nelesh Dhand; former Discovery executive Marjorie Kaplan; and Ben Anthony, director of 7/7: One Day in London.
The Kapadia incident was the latest flash point between Grierson and the Jewish community. The organization banned an individual from its events after they approached three Jewish people at last year’s awards to confront them about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Grierson has been approached for comment beyond Bednarz and Heggessey’s letter. Kapadia declined to comment. His Twitter (now X) account has remained deactivated since the events of last month.
