North West Tonight apologises for red ribbon call on World AIDS Day

Ian Green, CEO of the Terrence Higgins Trust, wrote: “As CEO of the @THTorguk. the UKs leading HIV charity, this is really inappropriate particularly on World AIDS Day.

“Across the UK so many of us are remembering loved ones that we have lost to HIV yet the @BBCNWT is using the symbols of that remembrance for another purpose. Sad….”

North West Tonight deleted their original tweet and also posted an apology.

“We have deleted a tweet about our project to pay tribute to COVID victims.  Given we have used red ribbons as part of it, we understand why some people found it insensitive on World AIDS Day.  We’re sorry.

“We have been working closely with those who have lost loved ones to COVID and this initiative is to remember those who have died during the pandemic.”

Presenter Roger Johnson also tweeted: “I have done the same with my own Tweet about the ribbons. It was a genuine mistake and no offence was intended to anyone. Sincere apologies.”

A BBC spokesperson later added: “We apologise for the upset caused by the launch of this project. The timing on World Aids Day was wrong. We are working closely with families in the North West who have lost loved ones during the pandemic and it was never our intention to cause offence.”