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The BBC is facing a growing backlash over a decision to rebuke Naga Munchetty over comments she made about Donald Trump.

The corporation's executive complaints upheld a single complaint from a member of the public after the BBC Breakfast presenter told viewers she felt “absolutely furious” about the US president’s language.

It came shortly after he told four non-white Democratic congresswomen - all US citizens - to “go home” .

The BBC is now facing growing backlash both inside and outside the corporation amid anger at how it balances its duty to staff and audiences when it comes to issues of race.

As the row intensified, Munchetty received the backing of BBC bosses, including director-general Lord Tony Hall, who said the broadcaster was not impartial when it came to racism .

Dozens of prominent black Britons, including Sir Lenny Henry and Adrian Lester, have also written to the BBC saying their position is "deeply flawed" and "illegal".

In a letter published in the Guardian, they wrote: "To require journalists of all ethnicities and races to endorse racism as a legitimate 'opinion' is an abrogation of responsibility of the most serious nature."

Embrace, the BBC black and minority ethnic staff network, which has 500 members, has also written to BBC bosses to “convey the strength of feeling of both black and minority ethnic staff and non black and minority ethnic staff” about the decision.

“This action will destroy trust and damage the reputation of the BBC, and needs to be reversed. We await an urgent response,” it said.

Figures from the world of broadcasting and politics have also spoken out on the decision, while broadcasting watchdog Ofcom will also assess what was said against its own broadcasting rules.

Chancellor Sajid Javid tweeted the situation was "ridiculous", adding: "It's perfectly understandable why she said what she did", while Labour's Clive Lewis has tabled an early day motion in Parliament condemning the "perverse" decision.

A number of BBC figures have aired their views on the saga, with BBC Five Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake tweeting: "So my understanding of the BBC ruling is that if a public figure called me a 'Paki' I could tell you that what they had said was racist but I couldn't say that aforementioned public figure was a racist. I'm glad we cleared that up."

And Carrie Gracie, the corporation's former China editor who entered into a well-publicised dispute over equal pay, said: "£BBC ed guidelines important but must apply equally. Can't reprimand woman of colour but smile on opinionating white men.

"Risk of double standards on big Qs of race + gender. BBC, sort yourself out."

The BBC’s editorial standards director, David Jordan, attempted to defuse the situation on Friday , telling Radio 4’s Today programme that people may have “wilfully” misunderstood the nature of the ruling against Munchetty.

He said there was no doubt that Mr Trump’s original comments were racist, agreed that it was entirely within Munchetty’s right to describe those comments as racist on air, and said the presenter was allowed to provide analysis to viewers about how a person of colour felt when they were told to “go home”.

However, Jordan insisted she had breached editorial guidelines because she appeared to make a judgment on Trump’s personality, saying it is not the BBC’s job to be “calling out people for being liars or racist”.

The Executive Committee of the broadcaster, which includes BBC Director General Tony Hall, also sent a message to employees making clear its stance on Ms Munchetty's case and racism - saying that she was justified in saying that telling someone to go back home was racist.

It said: "You will have heard a lot of comment over the past few days about the BBC and the reporting of racism. The BBC is not impartial on racism.

"Racism is not an opinion and it is not a matter for debate. Racism is racism.

"Naga Munchetty - one of our stars - was completely within her rights to speak about the tweets of Donald Trump which have been widely condemned as racist."

The incident took place on July 17 when Munchetty and co-host Dan Walker discussed Mr Trump's comments directed at politicians Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.

She told her co-presenter Dan Walker: "Every time I have been told, as a woman of colour, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism," adding: "I'm not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean."

Questioned further by Mr Walker, she said she was "absolutely furious a man in that position thinks it's OK to skirt the lines by using language like that".

It was ruled that Ms Munchetty crossed the line when she commented on statements made by Mr Trump.

The BBC initially commented saying: "Overall her comments went beyond what the guidelines allow for."