After accusations of sexism, the BBC on Friday acknowledged an "
inappropriate
" headline in a story about the resignation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in which the broadcasting group questioned whether women could "
really have it all
".
Jacinda Ardern, 42, announced Thursday that she would leave office in early February after five and a half years in power, saying she "
no longer has the energy
" to run for a new term.
Covering the announcement, the BBC World channel then shared an article on its social networks entitled: “
Jacinda Ardern resigns: can women really have it all?
The wording created an uproar on social media, with many netizens decrying a sexist outing.
“
We quickly recognized that the original title was not appropriate and we changed it.
We have also deleted the tweet associated
” with the article, a BBC spokesperson told AFP on Friday.
“
What world do you live in?
“, asked an angry surfer on Twitter.
"
It's a shame @BBCWorld
", denounced another.
"
Jacinda Ardern has been a longtime leader and international hero.
Thanks to her, many other women have greater aspirations and will experience greater success.
She did it all
."
Read alsoThe BBC could give up its channels and become 100% digital
During her tenure, Jacinda Ardern faced the Covid-19 pandemic, a deadly volcanic eruption and the country's worst ever attack, the killing of 51 Muslim worshipers at a Christchurch mosque by a white supremacist in 2019. Hugely popular overseas, where she has graced the covers of Vogue and Time magazines, she has long enjoyed record approval ratings in New Zealand as well, where the media has sometimes even referred to it as "
Jacindamania
".
