Martin Bashir Used 'Deceitful Behavior' To Secure Princess Diana's Bombshell Tell-All Nearly 30 Years Ago
May 20 2021, Published 12:46 p.m. ET
Princess Diana's bombshell 1995 interview only happened because interviewer Martin Bashir used "deceitful behavior" to secure the sit-down, according to a new report.
The 127-page report concluded that Bashir "deceived and induced" Diana's brother Earl Spencer by presenting false evidence that propelled him to convince his sister to accept the BBC interview.
Bashir reportedly presented Spencer with fake bank statements, alleging they were proof that someone on his staff was leaking stories about Diana to the press.
Martin Bashir and Princess Diana
The Telegraph reports that BBC’s current director-general Tim Davie accepts the findings of former High Court Judge Lord Dyson and even apologized for Bashir's questionable behavior all those years ago.
"Although the report states that Diana, Princess of Wales, was keen on the idea of an interview with the BBC, it is clear that the proceeds for securing the interview fell far short of what audiences have a right to expect," said Davie.
"We are very sorry for this. Lord Dyson has identified clear failings."
Martin Bashir's 1995 interview with Princess Diana
Davie continued to say that BBC has learned from their mistake.
"While today’s BBC has significantly better processes and procedures, those that existed at the time should have prevented the interview being secured this way," he continued.