The BBC has hit back at backlash over TikTok influencer Mizzy’s appearance on Newsnight, where he took part in a debate about Andrew Tate.
Bacari-Bronze O’Garro, 18, has sparked major controversy after filming himself ‘pranking’ members of the public, including invading a family home and picking up an elderly woman’s dog and running away.
He elsewhere filmed himself asking a train commuter ‘Do you want to die?’ and in another video, walked through a couple’s door, around their home and in front of their young kids,.
He was later slapped with a £365 fine and handed a community behaviour order, before being arrested for breaching it.
Since hitting the headlines over his highly-criticised stunts, he’s appeared on Piers Morgan’s Uncensored as well as Newsnight, which had the BBC hit with backlash.
Loose Women star Denise Welch was one of those commenting: ‘Absolutely unbelievable that @BBCNewsnight would promote this creature who openly terrorises people in their own homes!!! I’m doing the same here but to make a point. Disgusting.’
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After the broadcaster was hit with complaints over the ‘appropriateness of Mizzy appearing as a guest on Newsnight to discuss Andrew Tate,’ it’s now addressed the backlash.
The response reads: ‘Andrew Tate’s influence, particularly on young men, and his actions are a matter which is in the public interest to understand.
‘The BBC’s interview challenged him to respond to wide concerns about the ideas and behaviour he promotes.
‘Laura Bates, from the Everyday Sexism Project, and Bacari-Bronze O’Garro, also known as ‘Mizzy’ appeared on Newsnight to discuss Andrew Tate after an interview with Mr Tate was aired by the BBC on 1st June.
‘The discussion was exploring why young men and boys are attracted by Andrew Tate despite his misogynistic and sexist views.
‘Mr O’Garro had been contacted directly by the Tate brothers after his online videos and he credits them partly with his decision to stop online pranking. He was clearly a guest with relevant experience to this discussion.
‘Kirsty Wark interjected and challenged Mr O’Garro on a number of points, including his past criminal activity, and we are confident that he was robustly challenged throughout the interview.’
This comes after the BBC received even more backlash over sitting down for an interview with divisive figure Tate.
The social media influencer has previously said women ‘bear some responsibility for being attacked,’ claimed that their place is in the home, and referred to them as the ‘property’ of men.
He also has revealed that dating younger women is better as you can ‘make an imprint.’
Tate, 36, is currently on house arrest after spending three months in a Romanian jail on suspicion of organised crime and human trafficking. He has denied the allegations.
BBC News reporter Lucy Williamson was granted access to Tate at his home for Andrew Tate: The Interview, and put to him allegations of rape, and exploiting women, which he dismissed.
She also challenged him on his views on women, to which he responded that he was ‘acting under the instruction of God to do good things.’
Mizzy, in an apology video, praised Tristan Tate, who was arrested along with his brother on allegations of rape, people trafficking and forming an organised crime group which they deny, for ‘helping immensely’ with the apology.
In the video, Mizzy said he had ‘made a very dumb stupid mistake’ by walking into the couple’s home and walking around in front of their children.
He said on Twitter: ‘A house is supposed to be a safe space where you know you can relax without being in any sort of distress and me walking into that house was a very big violation to the homeowners.
‘They had kids and I have a child myself so I know how protective people get over their children.’
He continued: ‘Tristan Tate reached out to me and told me what I was doing was wrong. He invited me into a group chat with Andrew where they were telling me what I was doing was wrong. They helped me make a draft of the apology video weeks ago.’
This is despite previously appearing to defend his actions to broadcaster Piers, claiming ‘UK laws are weak’ and boasting: ‘I can do what I want.’
He said on Piers Morgan Uncensored: ‘I would more call it having fun. But let me get this out of the way first, I apologised.
‘You see this situation that blew up on the internet, like walking into random houses, the next day I apologised because I felt bad.’
Andrew Tate: The Interview and Newsnight are both available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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