Tory Peer Pays Damages To BBC University Challenge Student Over ‘Antisemitic’ Mascot Accusation

University Challenge contestants faced online backlash over their choice of mascot. (Screengrab via BBC)

Conservative peer Baroness Jacqueline Foster issued a public apology Wednesday and paid substantial damages to Melika Gorgianeh, a doctoral student at Oxford University, after false claims that an octopus soft toy used as the University Challenge team’s mascot was chosen as an antisemitic symbol.

In a recent post on X, Foster wrote: “I wrongly alleged that Ms. Gorgianeh chose one of the most disgusting antisemitic symbols, a blue octopus, as her team’s mascot which I held her responsible for. I accept that these allegations were completely false and unfounded.”

https://twitter.com/jfoster2019/status/1765296139828338945?s=20

Gorgianeh, who faced criticism after the episode aired, expressed the impact of Foster’s comments on her life in a statement made through her lawyers at Rahman Lowe Solicitors.

Acknowledging Foster’s apology, Gorgianeh wrote: “Words have consequences.” She revealed receiving death threats and “felt unsafe to even leave [her] house.”

She added: “Nobody should ever have to feel how I felt or go through what I went through.”

Foster’s false accusation, made in a since-deleted tweet, described the toy as one of the most “disgusting anti-Semitic symbols” and triggered a barrage of news reports. The peer called for Gorgianeh’s expulsion from university and arrest. In her initial tweet Foster also tagged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, media watchdog Ofcom and Oxford University.

However, at the time, the BBC attempted to push back by clarifying that the mascot was chosen by the entire team before the conflict in Gaza and had no antisemitic connotations.

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