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Radio 3 Cuts Ties After Pianist's Email Uproar
26 Feb
Summary
- Pianist Yuja Wang publicly shared an email from Norman Lebrecht.
- Wang accused the writer of derogatory misogynistic bullying.
- BBC Radio 3 terminated its working relationship with Lebrecht.
Pianist Yuja Wang has publicly revealed an email exchange with writer and presenter Norman Lebrecht, accusing him of "derogatory misogynistic bullying." Wang shared the email on Instagram, responding to Lebrecht's message questioning her withdrawal from a BBC interview and stating she might revise her opinion of her as a "serious person."
In light of the social media post, BBC Radio 3 controller Sam Jackson confirmed that the station will cease working with Lebrecht. Lebrecht, who has a long association with Radio 3, stated his email was "perhaps a tad sharp" and that he would have said the same to a male artist. He added that he had apologized to the BBC for any unintended embarrassment after Wang published his email.
Lebrecht also runs the classical music website Slipped Disc and has previously written for major newspapers. Wang is currently en route to London for a performance with the London Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, March 1. Her representative confirmed she has no further comment.
