Naga Munchetty thinks there are "lessons to be learnt" from the controversy surrounding the BBC's guidelines.

Naga Munchetty

Naga Munchetty

The 45-year-old presenter was ruled to have breached the broadcaster's guidelines by criticising US President Donald Trump for perceived racist comments, and although the decision was later overturned, she thinks the incident is worth reflecting on.

Naga said: "There are lessons to be learnt.

"The 'Breakfast' team was very supportive at the time and, since then, I've had regular conversations with [BBC director-general] Tony Hall and other BBC bosses.

"My whole strategy was to just keep my head down because I didn't want to be the story."

Asked whether the incident has made her more cautious about what she says on air, Naga told Radio Times it's a case of "business as usual".

The controversy erupted shortly after Naga took issue with Trump's comments telling his opponents to "go back" to the "places from which they came".

In response, she shared: "Every time I have been told, as a woman of colour, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism.

"Now I'm not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean."

Earlier this year, meanwhile, Naga admitted she's happy to hit back at social media trolls "with two barrels".

The TV presenter insisted she's open to "constructive criticism" online, but she's completely intolerant of abusive behaviour.

She explained: "I don't mind if on social media there is constructive criticism like, 'I feel you didn't ask this question, I feel like you didn't push that hard enough' that's fine.

"When someone abuses me, I'm going to come back at them with two barrels, I'm just not having it."


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