Alex Kay-Jelski, the recently appointed director of BBC Sport, has pledged to uphold impartiality in his new role, following backlash over a 2019 article. Amid criticism from JK Rowling and others, Kay-Jelski emphasised the need for fairness and kindness in discussions while clarifying his stance on gender issues.
Alex Kay-Jelski, the newly appointed director of BBC Sport, has committed to maintaining impartiality in his role, following controversy over a 2019 article he wrote that resurfaced online. Kay-Jelski was appointed in April to replace Barbara Slater, who retired after 14 years. In his statement, issued on Thursday, he emphasized that he would not be advocating any position and called for “more kindness” in debates.
The controversy stems from an article Kay-Jelski wrote in 2019, while he was the sports editor at The Times, which was criticized by author JK Rowling and other gender-critical feminists. In the piece, Kay-Jelski appeared to compare concerns about trans athletes to racist attitudes. He also commented on the genetic advantages of certain athletes, stating it would be “mad” to segregate competitors based on genetics.
Kay-Jelski clarified his intentions in joining SEENinJournalism, a group that promotes truth and impartiality in gender issues. He stated that his original article aimed to highlight that at the time, few transgender athletes competed at elite levels. Rowling criticized his appointment, calling it “utterly predictable” and criticized the BBC’s handling of gender issues. Meanwhile, former Olympian Sharron Davies and tennis legend Martina Navratilova also expressed dissatisfaction, with Navratilova noting that Kay-Jelski had blocked her on social media.
Kay-Jelski affirmed that under his leadership, BBC Sport would report issues impartially, leaving personal views out of his professional responsibilities.
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