PinkNews Director Suspended from NHS Role After BBC Investigation

Dr. Anthony James, a director at PinkNews, has been suspended from his position within the NHS. This action follows a BBC News investigation that brought forth allegations of sexual misconduct concerning the publishing company. The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust stated its decision to suspend Dr. James from his capacity as an associate non-executive director, awaiting additional information. Representatives for Benjamin Cohen, the founder of PinkNews, and Dr. James, who is the site’s Chief Operating Officer and Mr. Cohen’s husband, informed the BBC that they could not issue a statement at this moment concerning the initial claims presented to the BBC. However, they affirmed their stance that “the allegations are false.” The BBC has reached out to Dr. James’s representatives for comment regarding his suspension. A BBC investigation involved interviews with over 30 individuals, comprising both former and current employees of PinkNews, recognized as the world’s largest LGBT News website. These individuals reported that a prevalent heavy drinking culture within the company contributed to occurrences of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behavior attributed to both Mr. Cohen and Dr. James. During the course of the investigation, the BBC interviewed five former PinkNews staff members who stated they witnessed Dr. James kissing and touching a younger colleague, a person they characterized as “too drunk to consent.” Additional accounts depicted a toxic work environment and a reluctance to speak up, stemming from the circumstance that the two highest-ranking executives at the website were married to each other. Upon being contacted regarding the initial investigation, representatives for Mr. Cohen and Dr. James informed the BBC that they were currently unable to issue a statement, but reiterated their position that “the allegations are false.” Subsequent to the investigation’s publication, over 10 former PinkNews employees have subsequently come forward to recount their experiences working at the organization. In addition to his responsibilities at PinkNews, Dr. James held a part-time position as an associate non-executive director within the NHS. This particular role, characterized by the NHS as a “step up” position, was established to enable individuals demonstrating potential to become non-executive directors to gain further experience serving on an NHS board. The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust informed the BBC that it was “aware of allegations made on the BBC against Dr Anthony James, associate non-executive director, in his role as PinkNews’ chief operating officer.” A spokesperson for the trust further stated: “Following these allegations, we made the decision on Tuesday 10 December to suspend him from his associate non-executive role pending further information.” There has been no indication of any misconduct during Dr. James’s tenure with the NHS. The BBC sought comment from Dr. James’s representatives regarding his suspension. Additional reporting was provided by Kristian Johnson. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.