The Facts
Following public claims on Friday alleging that a BBC TV presenter paid a teenager £35K ($45K) for sexually explicit photos, the corporation met with police on Monday to discuss the matter further. An investigation is yet to be opened, however, with the police still trying to ascertain whether a criminal offense was committed.
Last week, newspaper outlet the Sun reported that a familiar name from the BBC had paid the then-teenager the sum over three years, beginning when they were reportedly only 17. UK law prohibits the ability to legally consent to sending explicit photos until the age of 18.
The Spin
Narrative A
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, it has taken nearly 50 days and the pressure of public outcry for the BBC to take any action against the unnamed presenter through his suspension. The BBC has once again pressed its own self-destruct button and shown how not to deal with a crisis.
Narrative B
The claims made most recently are far more serious than those initially made in May, and the BBC has acted swiftly to suspend the presenter in question. However, at this stage the facts are still being determined, and the staff member has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.